Search Results (65)

A dearth of knowledge exists on identifying the begomoviruses and distributing cassava mosaic viruses across key cassava-growing regions of Sierra Leone. The study aimed to identify and map the distribution of cassava mosaic disease (CMD)-associated viruses in farmers’ fields in Sierra Leone. Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) leaf samples were collected in 109 smallholder farms during a geo-referenced survey conducted from 10th May to 5th June 2024. Molecular diagnostics were carried out to identify the viral strains associated with CMD. Findings revealed that infection by stem cutting was more predominant in the south, east, north, and northwest regions than in the west region. In contrast, infection by whitefly was predominant in the west, north, and northwest regions. PCR screening of 426 samples coupled with sequence analysis revealed the presence of African cassava mosaic-like (ACMV-like) viruses, and East African cassava mosaic-like (EACMV-like) viruses as single infections at 78.1% and 1.3%, respectively. Co-infections of ACMV-like and EACMV-like viruses were detected in 20.6% of the tested samples. In addition, 70.6% of the samples positive for EACMV-like virus (single and mixed infections) were found to be positive for East African cassava mosaic Cameroon virus (EACMCMV). The ACMV and co-infection of ACMV and EACMV viruses were present in all regions, while EACMCV was detected in all regions except the western area. The results indicate more prevalence of the EACMCMV variant in Sierra Leone. This study suggests utilization of participatory surveillance and good agronomic practices to manage CMD in Sierra Leone. Full article

Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) is a major constraint to cassava production in Côte d’Ivoire, causing significant yield and income losses for smallholder farmers. Despite its high prevalence, farmers’ knowledge and understanding of the disease remain limited. To address this issue, the Central and West African Virus Epidemiology (WAVE) Regional Center of Excellence provided capacity building for farmers in the major cassava growing regions. This study assesses the impact of the WAVE’s trainings and awareness campaigns on farmers’ knowledge of the disease and the management methods they adopted. Mixed socio-agronomic data were collected from 290 farmers, and CMD epidemiological parameters were assessed in 82 farms. Data were analysed using propensity score matching (PSM), followed by a Tobit regression model to assess the determinants and intensity of adoption of CMD management practices, using Stata. The results showed that trained farmers had a better understanding of CMD compared to untrained farmers. On average, trained farmers adopted 2.36 disease management practices (DMPs) compared to 1.55 DMPs for untrained farmers. Participation in WAVE’s training sessions and a sound knowledge of CMD positively influenced both the adoption and intensity of adoption of DMPs. However, there was no significant difference in CMD incidence between beneficiary areas (54.55%) and non-beneficiary areas (54.95%), likely due to the unavailability of disease-free planting material, inadequate agricultural practices, and high populations of whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci). This study shows the importance of awareness campaigns in the sustainable management of crop diseases in general and CMD in particular and suggests the need to train farmers on disease management and provide them with healthy planting materials. Full article

A study was conducted in Sierra Leone to identify cassava plants that are asymptomatic and symptomatic to cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and collect planting materials for field trial establishment; determine the prevalence of CMD caused by African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV) and East African cassava mosaic virus (EACMV) using the Nuru App and virus indexing techniques; and assess selected agronomic traits in cassava. A total of 80 cassava farms spanning four provinces (Southern, Eastern, Northern, and North-West) were surveyed in April 2022. Findings showed that the cassava variants of the experiment and locations significantly (p < 0.001) affected CMD incidence, severity, growth, and fresh storage root yield traits. The CMD incidence (87.0%) and whitefly abundance (144.8) were highest, and the CMD severity was moderate (4.0) for the plants derived from cuttings obtained from symptomatic Cocoa mother plants, while plants derived from cuttings of improved mother plants exhibited no visible symptoms of the disease and the lowest population (45.1) of whiteflies. The Nuru app is inefficient for phenotypically detecting CMD at 3 months after planting (MAP), while at 6, 9 and 12 MAP, the app efficiently detected the disease using a molecular analysis technique. Resistant, non-diseased plants derived from cuttings obtained from SLICASS 4 mother plants produced the highest fresh storage root yield (54.9 t ha⁻¹). The highest storage root yield loss was recorded in the plants obtained from cuttings of symptomatic variety Cocoa mother plants harvested at Matotoka grassland ecology, Bombali District (90.2%), while those harvested from cuttings of asymptomatic variety Cocoa mother plants grown at the four test environments had a similar storage root yield loss ranging from 40.3 to 46.2%. Findings suggest the importance of genetic variability, environmental adaptation, utilization of diseased-free materials, and phytosanitation as disease management strategies for increased production. These findings provide important insights into the distribution, impact, and spread of CMD and whitefly abundance in the studied areas in Sierra Leone that could be exploited for cassava production, productivity, conservation, and population improvement. Full article

Groundwater resources in the Kou sub-basin of southwestern Burkina Faso play a critical role in supporting domestic water supply, agriculture, and industry in and around Bobo-Dioulasso, the second-largest city in Burkina Faso. This study synthesizes over three decades of research on groundwater vulnerability, recharge mechanisms, hydrochemistry, and residence time across the region’s sedimentary aquifers. The Kou basin hosts a complex stratified system of confined and unconfined aquifers, where hydrochemical analyses reveal predominantly Ca–Mg–HCO₃ facies, alongside local nitrate (0–860 mg/L), iron (0–2 mg/L) and potassium (<6.5 mg/L–190 mg/L) contamination. Vulnerability assessments—using parametric (DRASTIC, GOD, APSU) and numerical (MODFLOW/MT3D) models—consistently indicate moderate to high vulnerability, especially in alluvial and urban/peri-urban areas. Isotopic results show a deep recharge for a residence time greater than 50 years with deep groundwater dating from 25,000 to 42,000 years. Isotopic data confirm a vertically stratified system, with deep aquifers holding fossil water and shallow units showing recent recharge. Recharge estimates vary significantly (0–354 mm/year) depending on methodology, reflecting uncertainties in climatic, geological, and anthropogenic parameters. This review highlights major methodological limitations, including inconsistent data quality, limited spatial coverage, and insufficient integration of socio-economic drivers. To ensure long-term sustainability, future work must prioritize high-resolution hydrogeological mapping, multi-method recharge modeling, dynamic vulnerability assessments, and strengthened groundwater governance. This synthesis provides a critical foundation for improving water resource management in one of Burkina Faso’s most strategic aquifer systems. Full article

Salinity and water scarcity are among the major environmental challenges requiring the use of non-conventional water sources and the adoption of salt-tolerant crops. We assessed the impact of irrigation with different concentrations of NaCl: 50 mM and 150 mM on the growth parameters and yield of triticale, soil salinity, distribution of active root density, and concentrations of Na⁺ and NO₃⁻ ions at harvest compared to freshwater under zero leaching conditions. Irrigation was applied on a daily basis based on weight measurements of micro-lysimeter pots. Growth parameters, including plant height, LAI, number of leaves, number of tillers, and soil salinity, were observed across the growing season. Spatial distributions of soil salinity, normalized root length density (NRLD), concentrations of Na⁺ and NO₃⁻ in soil profile were measured in two dimensions. The results indicate that irrigating with 150 mM of NaCl H₂O significantly affected the crop growth, causing salts, particularly Na⁺, to reside in the topsoil, reducing NRLD with soil depth, crop water demand, and NO₃⁻ uptake. The application of 150 mM and 50 mM of NaCl H₂O reduced crop water use by 4 and 2.6 times as well as grain yield by 97% and 42%, respectively, compared to freshwater. This shows that irrigation with concentration equal to or higher than 150 mM NaCl will result in very low production. To achieve higher yield and crop water productivity, irrigation with NaCl concentration of 50 mM or less is recommended to grow triticale in marginal regions with limited freshwater resources. Full article

Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) remains the most severe threat to cassava production in the Great Lakes region and Southern Africa. Screening for virus resistance by subjecting cassava to high virus pressure in the epidemic zone (hotspots) is a common but lengthy process because of unpredictable and erratic virus infections requiring multiple seasons for disease evaluation. This study investigated the feasibility of graft-infections to provide a highly controlled infection process that is robust and reproducible to select and eliminate susceptible cassava at the early stages and to predict the resistance of adapted and economically valuable varieties. To achieve this, a collection of cassava germplasm from the Democratic Republic of Congo and a different set of breeding trials comprising two seed nurseries and one preliminary yield trial were established. The cassava varieties OBAMA and NAROCASS 1 infected with CBSD were planted one month after establishment of the main trials in a 50 m² plot to serve as the source of the infection and to provide scions to graft approximately 1 ha. Grafted plants were inspected for virus symptoms and additionally tested by RT-qPCR for sensitive detection of the viruses. The incidence and severity of CBSD and cassava mosaic disease (CMD) symptoms were scored at different stages of plant growth and fresh root yield determined at harvesting. The results from the field experiments proved that graft-infection with infected plants showed rapid symptom development in susceptible cassava plants allowing instant exclusion of those lines from the next breeding cycle. High heritability, with values ranging from 0.63 to 0.97, was further recorded for leaf and root symptoms, respectively. Indeed, only a few cassava progenies were selected while clones DSC260 and two species of M. glaziovii (Glaziovii20210005 and Glaziovii20210006) showed resistance to CBSD. Taken together, grafting scions from infected cassava is a highly efficient and cost-effective method to infect cassava with CBSD even under rugged field conditions. It replaces an erratic infection process with a controlled method to ensure precise screening and selection for virus resistance. The clones identified as resistant could serve as elite donors for introgression, facilitating the transfer of resistance to CBSD. Full article

Securidaca longipedunculata Fresen, a medicinal tree indigenous to tropical Africa, faces threats due to root overharvesting and limited occurrence. This study assessed the extent of variation in the morphological traits and germination of seeds collected from populations located across the Sudano-Sahelian and Sudanian climatic zones in Burkina Faso. A total of 1600 mature fruits across the two climatic zones were characterized in their morphology. Seed germination tests were conducted with material collected across climatic zones, using six physical and chemical pre-treatments and two substrates. Descriptive statistics and analyses of variance were used to process the data generated. The morphological data showed significant variations in fruit and nut traits across the populations sampled, which may reflect a significant underlying genetic diversity, as expected in wild plants. Samples from the Sudano-Sahelian zone exhibited larger fruits (11.87 ± 1.38 mm) containing heavier (0.12 ± 0.04 g) and larger (5.64 ± 1.02 mm) nuts. Seeds sown on river sand exhibited the highest mean germination percentage (35.24 ± 17.73%) and germination speed (0.40 ± 0.36 seedlings per day). Seed wing and coat removal resulted in the highest mean germination percentages (respectively, 36.5 ± 19% and 35.5 ± 16%). These results suggest the existence of some barriers to germination in S. longipedunculata seeds. For seedling production, preferably heavier fruits should be collected and sowing carried out on river sand after wing or coat removal. Full article

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing and multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales pose a major threat to both human and animal health. This study assessed the prevalence of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-Ec) and Klebsiella spp. (ESBL-K) on cattle farms in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, using a One Health approach. From May 2021 to September 2022, cattle faeces, farmers’ stools, their drinking water and farm soil samples were collected from semi-intensive and traditional farms. An ESBL-selective medium was used to obtain resistant isolates, which were further characterised using biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. ESBL-Ec and/or ESBL-K were detected in 188 of 322 samples (58.0%). The prevalence of ESBL-Ec isolates was 42.2% (136/322) and that of ESBL-K isolates was 24.5% (79/322). Notably, 156 of the 188 ESBL isolates (83.0%) exhibited multidrug resistance. The highest resistance rates were observed against tetracycline and cotrimoxazole. Importantly, no isolates showed resistance to meropenem, which was used to test for carbapenem resistance. This study highlights the presence of ESBL-Ec and ESBL-K among the humans, animals and environment of the cattle farms. Good hygiene and biosafety practices are essential to limit the potential spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria between different interfaces on farms. Full article

Cassava production in Africa is constrained by number of biotic factors, including cassava mosaic disease (CMD). In response to this challenge, the PlantVillage Nuru application, which employs artificial intelligence for CMD diagnosis, provides farmers with the ability to independently detect the disease. This study examines the factors influencing the adoption of the innovative Nuru application by farmers in Benin. Data were randomly collected from 305 farmers in three Agricultural Development Poles (PDAs 5, 6 and 7). A binary logit model was used to analyze the determinants of adoption. The results show that, despite the potential of the Nuru application, the adoption rate remained relatively low at 14.1%. The key drivers of adoption were found to be participation in CMD training, disease knowledge, ownership of an Android smartphone, education level and practice of crop association. These findings emphasize the necessity of intensifying farmers’ training and raising awareness about CMD. Effective strategies to reach and train a significant number of farmers are crucial. Enhancing Nuru adoption can lead to more effective CMD management and improved cassava production, which will have a positive impact on food security in Africa and strengthen the resilience of farming communities against biotic challenges. Full article

Data on antimicrobial resistance in Burkina Faso’s agricultural sector is still limited. This study assessed the occurrence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-Ec) and Klebsiella spp. (ESBL-K) in lettuce, environment, and gardeners’ stools in market gardens in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. A total of 356 samples were collected from three vegetable gardens (76 lettuce, 76 soil, 62 manure, 63 irrigation water, and 79 human stools). The ESBL-selective medium was used for initial selection of ESBL-producing bacteria, and the isolates were further identified using biochemical tests. An antibiotic susceptibility test was performed using the disk diffusion method. The overall prevalence of ESBL-Ec and/or ESBL-K in the samples was 232/356 (65.2%). Of the lettuce samples, the prevalence of ESBL-Ec was 19/76 (25.0%) and ESBL-K 33/76 (43.4%). In the market gardens environment, the prevalence of ESBL-Ec was 32/201 (15.9%) and ESBL-K 124/201 (61.7%). In the gardeners’ stools, the prevalence of ESBL-Ec was 42/79 (53.2%) and ESBL-K 24/79 (30.4%). Two ESBL-K isolates were found to produce NDM carbapenemase. Due to the high prevalence of ESBL-producing bacteria, which may also be carbapenemase producers, it is necessary to monitor pathogens in agricultural products with a “One Health” approach to limit and prevent infections in the population. Full article

Newly incorporated module into the WASH_2D model has enabled simulating a rainwater harvesting system (RWHS) using a tank. The incorporated module in WASH_2D was tested for two field experiments to determine the optimal tank capacity and cultivated area that give the highest net income for farmers. The first experiment was composed of treatments A, B, and C having the same cultivated and harvested areas (plastic sheets) of 24 m² and 12.5 m², respectively. The capacity of the tanks for treatments A, B, and C was set at 500, 300, and 200 L, corresponding to storability of 21, 13, and 8 mm, respectively, while in the second experiment we carried out three treatments: F, G, and H having the same tank capacity of 300 L and harvested area of 12.5 m² with variable cultivated areas as G and H were larger by two and three times than F (10.5 m²), respectively. Water was applied automatically through a drip irrigation system by monitoring soil water suction. Results of the first experiment showed that the optimal storability and seasonal net income simulated by WASH_2D were 17 mm and 5.82 USD yr⁻¹, which were fairly close to 18 mm and 5.75 USD yr⁻¹ observed from field data, respectively. Similarly, the results of the second experiment revealed that simulated net incomes for different cultivated areas agreed well with the observed data. We concluded that the use of the simulation model WASH_2D can be economically useful to promote small-scale irrigation in semi-arid regions and guide planning irrigation or rainwater harvesting investments. Full article

Small-scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) need to adopt and consistently practice sustainable agriculture to ensure sustainable livelihoods and food security. However, the adverse effects of climate change are threatening the achievement of this goal. Therefore, farmers within the sub-region need to embrace climate-smart agriculture (CSA) as a means for climate change adaptation and mitigation. This study was conducted to understand, on the one hand, how smart farming technologies are being promoted in sub-Saharan Africa, and on the other hand, how farmers are adopting the prevailing technologies. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) procedures were followed to identify 48 scientific papers in sub-Saharan Africa. It was found that promoters of smart farming technologies in sub-Saharan Africa include CGSpace, FAO, National Research Institutions, individual researchers, local institutions, and private institutions. The approach to the smart farming technology discourse in sub-Saharan Africa starts by building on efforts to sustain CSA practices with a gradual shift towards the fourth agriculture revolution innovations. Even where there are efforts to push beyond conventional CSA practices by the private sector, farmers’ responses are still low. It is recommended that any intervention to promote modern smart farming technologies to smallholders should build on conventional CSA practices. Full article

The consumption of unsafe water in rural areas is a real public health problem in developing countries. This situation mainly affects children under five years of age and causes several deaths and many cases of malnutrition every year. The objective of this study was to evaluate and optimize the capacity of four local plant extracts in the potabilization of unsafe water. Thus, Moringa oleifera and Boscia senegalensis seeds, or Aloe vera and Opuntia ficus-indica mucilages were prepared in a solution and applied during a jar test as biocoagulants and bioflocculants on three raw water samples of 82.3 NTU, 549.8 NTU and 796.9 NTU. After treatment results showed that 0.9 g/L of Moringa biocoagulant or 1 g/L of Boscia biocoagulant applied with 0.4 mL of Aloe vera bioflocculant or 0.6 mL of Opuntia ficus-indica bioflocculant reduced the turbidity of each water sample to values less than 5 NTU after only 15 min of decanting. Moreover, the sanitary quality of the water treated by these different extracts showed a perfect conformity of the physicochemical and microbiological parameters with the standards of acceptability in drinking water decreed by the World Health Organization. Thus, the application of these local plant extracts has made it possible to considerably improve the quality of unsafe water in record time. Their popularization could be an alternative in the fight against malnutrition related to the consumption of unsafe water, especially in rural areas. Full article

Bactrocera dorsalis Hendel is a highly invasive horticultural pest that is of major economic importance worldwide. In Burkina Faso, it is one of the main insect pests that affects the production and exportation of mangos. Understanding the biology and the genetic dynamics of this insect pest provides crucial information for the development of effective control measures. The aim of this study was to understand the distribution, diversity, and genetic structure of B. dorsalis in Burkina Faso. Male flies were collected transversally in Burkina Faso and analyzed by PCR using 10 microsatellite markers. The results showed an abundance of B. dorsalis varying from 87 to 2986 flies per trap per day at the different sampling sites. The genetic diversity was high at all sites, with an average Shannon’s Information Index (I) of 0.72 per site. The gene flow was high between study populations and ranged from 10.62 to 27.53 migrants. Bayesian admixture analysis showed no evidence of structure, while Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components identified three weakly separated clusters in the population of B. dorsalis in Burkina Faso. The results of this study could be used to optimize the effectiveness of current control interventions and to guide the implementation of new, innovative, and sustainable strategies. Full article

Genetic diversity is very important in crop improvement. This study was carried out to assess the genetic diversity and the number of unique multilocus genotypes (MLGs) in a cassava collection in Burkina Faso. To achieve this objective, 130 cassava accessions were genotyped using 32 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. The results revealed that among these markers, twelve (12) were highly informative, with polymorphic information content (PIC) values greater than 0.50; twelve (12) were moderately informative, with PIC values ranging between 0.25 and 0.50; and eight (8) were not very informative, with PIC values lower than 0.25. A moderate level of genetic diversity was found for the population, indicated by the average expected heterozygosity (0.45) and the observed heterozygosity (0.48). About 83.8% of unique multilocus genotypes were found in the cassava collection, indicating that SSR markers seem to be most appropriate for MLG identification. Population structure analysis based on hierarchical clustering identified two subpopulations and the Bayesian approach suggested five clusters. Additionally, discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) separated the cassava accessions into 13 subpopulations. A comparison of these results and those of a previous study using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) suggests that each type of marker can be used to assess the genetic structure of cassava grown in Burkina Faso. Full article