BecA Hub in action Project Title:
Molecular genetic diversity studes of Napier grass species from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia
| Donor: | ASARECA |
|---|---|
| Partner/Institution: | ILRI, KARI, ICRAF |
| Project Highlight: | Two diseases of Napier grass (grass head smut and grass stunt disease) are a major threat to the smallholder diary sub-sector in the region in East and Central Africa. Resource poor and landless farmers are particularly affected by these yield reductions to the extent that they cannot produce sufficient feed for their cows or grass for sale . Identification of resistant and more productive clones of Napier is one approach to address these feed shortages. This approach is economical and particularly suitable for Napier grass diseases since the farmers threatened by these diseases are resource poor and traditionally grow Napier grass with no or low inputs. Studies of the nutritive and agronomic traits of new disease resistant clones, including measurement of biomass will be used to identify superior genotypes that are resistant to diseases, adapted to local environments, high yielding and easy to handle for stall feeding. This project is assessing genetic diversity in Napier grass in East and Central Africa to identify sources of resistance to smut and stunt. It will test the hypothesis that genetic resistance to smut and stunt disease exists in Napier grass and can be exploited for disease control without loss of productivity |
| Total Project Budget $US: | 22,000.00 |
| Scientist Involved: | Rob Skilton , Jagger Harvey |
| Scientist Email: | Email: r.skilton@cgiar.org, j.harvey @cgiar.org |
BecA Clippings
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- German Chancellor Angela Merkel visits the BecA Hub, 20 July 2011.
- Transcript of the speech from Kenya's President, His Excellency, the Honorable Mwai Kibaki for the official opening of Biosciences eastern and central Africa Hub, 5 November 2010.
- Transcript of the speech from Honorable Mohammed Abdi Kuti, Minister for Livestock Development, for the official opening of the Biosciences eastern and central Africa Hub, 5 November 2010.
- Notes from the speech of His Excellency, David Collins, Canadian High Commission to Kenya at the official launch of the Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) Hub, 5 November 2010.
