Agricultural and Food Science Journal of Ghana

Editorial

Raphael Kwame Bam — 2024-09-06

No Abstract

Evaluation of Groundnut Genotypes for Resistance to Early Leaf Spot Disease and Preharvest Aflatoxin Contamination

F. Kankam — 2024-09-06

Aflatoxin caused by Aspergillus flavus is a major field to storage contaminant in groundnut seed production, whereas defoliation diseases in groundnut caused by Passalora arachidicola and Nothopassalora personata are two of the most yield-limiting biotic stresses. The present study was to identify groundnut genotypes with resistance to leaf spot disease and preharvest aflatoxin contamination. Thirty-three groundnut genotypes originating from crosses between Schubert × 43-09-03-02 and TS32-1 × 60-02-03-02 including three checks: Manipinta, Chinese and ICGV03401 were evaluated in screenhouse and field studies. In the screenhouse experiment, the groundnut genotypes were arranged in a Complete Randomized Design with three replications. The field experiment was laid in a 9 × 4 alpha lattice design with three replications. Results revealed that A. flavus population in the soil increased when the fields were inoculated with the A. flavus isolate. Again, results show that these groundnut genotypes namely, L024, L030, L078B, L086A, L092 and L096, showed resistance to leaf spot disease infection. Also, except for L020B, which respectively showed a B and B aflatoxin of 71.5 and 72.0 ppb under field conditions and 1 2 132.1 and 131.5 ppb in pots, the remaining genotypes did not accumulate any aflatoxin at the preharvest level. In conclusion, the study identified groundnut genotypes L024, L030, L078B, L086A, L092 and L096 to be resistant to early leaf spot disease and preharvest aflatoxin contamination. These genotypes could be tested in the future for their yield and stability under diverse environments and released as varieties.

Chemical Composition, in vitro Gas Production and Microbial Quality of Rice Straw Supplemented with Pelleted or Unpelleted Dried Rumen Digesta Concentrate

H.M. Agolisi — 2024-09-06

The study sought to assess the chemical composition, microbial quality and in vitro gas production of rice straw supplemented with pelleted or unpelleted dried rumen digesta (DRD) concentrate in the savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana. Four levels of DRD (0%, 5%, 10% and 15%) were incorporated into a concentrate and subjected to two methods of processing (unpelleted diet and pelleted diet). Processing methods and DRD inclusion levels had a significant (P<0.05) interaction effect on crude protein (CP), ash, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and E. coli. The unpelleted diet at a 15% inclusion level of dried DRD had the highest CP (14.22%). The highest E. coli count was recorded in the unpelleted diet at 0% inclusion of DRD. No E. coli was detected in the pellet diets. There was a decreasing trend of E. coli as the levels of DRD increased in the unpelleted concentrate diet. The highest (p<0.05) in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM) and metabolisable energy was recorded in the 15% DRD pellet concentrate supplemented with 50% rice straw. The study concluded that DRD pellet can be used as a source of protein to enhance the utilisation of poor-quality feed resources during the dry season to improve the growth performance of ruminants.

Quality Characteristics of Gluten-Free Noodles Prepared from Rice and Underutilised Ghanaian Crops

J. Quaisie — 2024-09-06

This study sought to assess the paste and quality acceptability of rice noodles by blending rice flour (RF) with starches from two underutilised Ghanaian crops (yam and cocoyam). Local breeds of yam (Dioscorea spp.) and cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) starches were blended with rice flour at different ratios. The paste properties and noodle qualities of rice flour (RF) blended with yam starch (YS) and cocoyam starch (CYS) were evaluated and compared. The blends of both starches under study had a significant positive effect on the swelling power, amylose content, and water holding capacity of RF, thereby positively impacting the noodles' textural and taste acceptability. The RF:YS blends had paste characteristics such as higher final viscosity (473.80–405.58 RVU), trough viscosity (258.67– 234.55 RVU), and peak viscosity (307.86–240.44 RVU) values, making them better suited for noodle production than the RF:CYS blends. More so, RF:YS blends produced noodles with higher firmness, shear resistance, and eating quality than RF:CYS blends, which produced noodles with softer and less chewy in texture. Both starch blends significantly reduced the cooking time of RF noodles. The starch sources had a greater impact on the acceptability of the noodles than their blend ratios with RF. The textural properties of noodles could be used to predict their cooking and sensory characteristics. Using these underutilised crop starches in various food systems could help reduce the pressure on the existing commercial starches.

The Effects of Life-Enzyme (Zymomonas mobilis) Treated Sawdust on Growth Performance, Apparent Nutrient Digestibility and Ileal Digesta Viscosity and Economics of Broiler Chickens

A.A. Alade — 2024-09-06

A 56-day study investigated the effects of Zymomonas mobilis treated sawdust on growth and economics of broiler chickens. Three hundred and seventy-five (375) day old unsexed marshal broiler chicks were allotted to five dietary treatments with 75 broiler chicks per treatment in a completely randomised designed experiment. Diets were formulated to include untreated sawdust (SD) and Zymomonas mobilis treated sawdust (ZSD) at 0, 50% and 100%. At the finishing phase (5-8 weeks), dietary treatments with 50% ZSD had higher daily weight gain and protein efficiency ratio (PER) and the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR). Overall growth response (0 - 8 weeks) showed similar values for FCR and PER. There was improved crude fibre digestibility; however, there was no influence on crude protein, ether extract and ash digestibility at the finishing phase (5-8 weeks). Dietary inclusion of SD and ZSD decreased the values of the ileal digesta viscosity and economic efficiency. Therefore, 50% SD and 100% ZSD could be incorporated in broiler chickens' diets without compromising the growth response

Exploring Production Constraints, Varietal Traits Preferences and Factors Influencing Adoption of Improved Rice Varieties in Nobewam, Ashanti Region

P.P. Acheampong — 2024-09-06

Identifying appropriate policy interventions to improve rice productivity is crucial to improvingn food security and incomes. This study used data from 73 rice farmers randomly selected from an irrigated scheme and employed Kendall's Coefficient of Concordance and multivariate regression techniques to explore production constraints, farmers' subjective varietal traits preferences and factors affecting adoption of improved rice varieties. Results showed capital acquisition, drudgery in land preparation, and weed infestation were among the constraints to rice production. Also, farmers selected rice varieties based on taste, ease of cooking, milling recovery, swelling ability and aroma. Empirical results revealed that farm size, land tenure, ease of cooking, milling recovery and percentage broken affected the selection of improved rice varieties. We suggest that rice varietal development programmes should consider grain traits preferred by end users in breeding activities. Also, government and local authorities should guarantee land tenure security across rice production areas to encourage the adoption of improved varieties.

Integrated Soil Fertility Management in Ghana: challenges and opportunities

E. Yeboah — 2024-09-06

Soil fertility remains a challenge in Ghana and other sub-Saharan African countries. Most nutrient balances on farmers' fields are negative due to nutrient mining resulting from continuous cultivation of farmers' fields. The major farming systems in the region are characteristically lowinput and rely heavily on resident soil organic matter, which is very low due to environmental and socioeconomic factors. Ghana has one of the lowest fertiliser application rates in the sub-region as a result of the inability of farmers to afford this input. The introduction of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) practices, which is premised on combining organic resources and inorganic fertilisers to combat soil fertility decline in combination with appropriate germplasm is being introduced as one possible technology that can reduce soil infertility. This review takes a critical look at the implementation of ISFM in Ghana with particular emphasis on challenges to adoption and implementation. Results indicate that most of the successes of this technology occurred in the northern parts of the country; however, proper implementation will require more effort to address challenges such as information flows in the value chain. The other solution is a need for a policy shift towards implementing the technology in addition to infrastructure development and the development of fertiliser markets.

Genetic Studies of Extra Early Maize Genotypes Under Low Nitrogen

G. Amuzu — 2024-09-06

Nitrogen (N) is a major limiting factor associated with maize production in sub-Saharan Africa. Low N tolerant hybrids can absorb and utilise N from the soil as well as applied fertilisers, making them efficient users of N. This study focused on identifying inbred lines with desirable GCA for grain yield and other agronomic traits under low N, determining the gene action governing grain yield and other agronomic traits under low N and estimating the genotypic variability for grain yield and other agronomic traits among extra early maize hybrids. Ten extra early white endosperm maize inbred lines were crossed to five testers in a line tester mating design to -1 generate fifty (50) single cross hybrids (SCH) which were evaluated under low N (30 kg N ha ) -1 and optimum N (90 kg N ha ). The combined analysis of variance (ANOVA) under low and optimum N showed significant mean squares for the environment and hybrids but non-significant hybrid environment interaction mean squares for grain yield (GY) under low N. General combining ability of line and tester as well as specific combining ability showed significant mean squares for GYunder both low and optimum N environments. Non-additive gene action governed GY under low and optimum N. GY had moderate genotypic coefficient of variability and high genetic advance as a percentage of mean under low and optimum N. Lines CRIZEEL-W-242 and CRIZEEL-W-261 were the best inbred lines identified under low and optimum N conditions, hence should be used in recurrent selection or other hybridization programmes.

Genetic variations of rice yellow mottle virus disease on selected rice (Oryza sativa L) genotypes and their effects on yield and yield-related traits

B. Amadu — 2024-09-06

Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) is one of the most important disease affecting rice production in Africa. This research aimed to estimate the effect of RYMV disease on some yield-related traits in Korean rice germplasm recently introduced into Ghana and identify new sources of RYMV resistance for use in breeding. One hundred and seventy-six (176) rice genotypes including two highly resistant and a susceptible check, were used for this research. The experiment was laid in 4 × 44 lattice design with four replications in RYMV inoculated and non-RYMV inoculated environments in a screen house at CSIR-Crops Research Institute (CRI), Fumesua, Ghana, in 2019. The non- RYMV inoculated environment served as a control. Significant positive correlations were observed between disease severity and percentage grain yield reduction. RYMV reduced the culm length, tiller number, plant height, panicle number, biomass, and grain yield. The first five principal components explained 92.39% of the variation in the germplasm, with panicle number, tiller number, heading date, grain yield/plant and disease severity being the main discriminatory traits. The biplot indicated that genotypes 8261112 and 8261119, together with Gigante and Tog7291 (resistant checks), were the least impacted by the disease. We identified four main clusters from the hierarchical cluster analysis. Five highly resistant and 10 resistant genotypes were identified. The newly identified resistant genotypes will be used in breeding for resistance to RYMVdisease in Africa.