R4D Nigeria

Genetic analysis of performance of maize inbred lines under drought stress

Mon, 21 May 2012 08:58 GMT

Document Type: Journal Article

Production Year: 2011

Citation: Meseka, S. K.; Menkir, A.; Ajala, S. Genetic Analysis of Performance of Maize Inbred Lines Under Drought Stress. Journal of Crop Improvement (2011) 25 (5) 521-539. [DOI: 10.1080/15427528.2011.592570]

Summary: The majority of farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) depend on maize (Zea mays L.), which is mostly grown in drought-prone areas. Understanding the inheritance of drought tolerance would help in developing drought-tolerant maize hybrids that would help increase maize production under erratic rainfalls. Twenty-four maize inbred lines were subjected to NC design II to generate 96 single-cross hybrids. The 24 inbred lines and their 96 hybrids were evaluated under managed drought-stress conditions between 2002 and 2005 at Ikenne, Nigeria. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of drought-susceptible and drought-tolerant inbred lines on performance of their hybrids, investigate mode of inheritance of drought tolerance, and determine the relationship between parental lines and their hybrids. Most crosses with at least one drought-tolerant parent produced tolerant hybrids, and the crosses between susceptible inbred lines produced susceptible hybrids. General combining ability (GCA) accounted for 55% to 87% of total variation among hybrids for most of the traits. Additive genetic effects influenced grain yield under drought stress. Correlation coefficient between grain yield of the inbred lines and their hybrids was positive and highly significant (r = 0.46***) under severe drought stress and relatively low (r = 0.30**) under mild drought stress and well-watered (r = 0.34**) regimes. Grain yield of inbred lines represented >20% of hybrid yield under severe stress. KU1409, 1824, 9006, 9432, and TZMI501xKU1414x501 had positive GCA effects for yield under drought stress and could be used for developing drought-tolerant hybrids.

Selection of extra-early maize inbreds under low N and drought at flowering and grain-filling for hybrid production

Tue, 15 May 2012 06:27 GMT

Document Type: Journal Article
Creator: Badu-Apraku, B.; Fakorede, M.A.B.; Oyenkunle, M.; Akinwale, R.O.

Production Year: 2011

Citation: Badu-Apraku, B.; Fakorede, M.A.B.; Oyenkunle, M.; Akinwale, R.O. Selection of extra-early maize inbreds under low N and drought at flowering and grain-filling for hybrid production. Maydica (2011) 56: 29-41.

Summary: Extra-early maize (Zea mays L) tolerant to low-N and drought could stabilize yields in sub-Saharan Africa. Studies were conducted under drought and low-N conditions in Nigeria for three years to determine the potential of 90 extra-early inbreds for hybrid production and evaluate the performance of 36 hybrids derived from the inbreds under drought at flowering and grain-filling periods and well-watered conditions. Results showed significant genotypic mean squares for grain yield and most other traits of the inbreds under drought and/or low-N conditions. TZEEI6, TZEEI4, TZEEI36, and TZEEI38 were identified as ideal inbreds under drought. Under low-N, TZEEI19, TZEEI96 and TZEEI45 were top ranking with TZEEI19 as the ideal inbred. TZEEI19, TZEEI29, TZEEI56, TZEEI38, and TZEEI79 were tolerant to both stresses. Eighteen of the 36 hybrids produced above-average yields across environments with four hybrids identified as very stable. TZEEI29 x TZEEI21 was the closest to the ideal genotype because it combines large mean performance with high yield stability. Hybrid yield under drought had large positive correlation with grain yield under well-watered environments. Selection for inbred traits such as days to silking and anthesis-silking interval under drought predicted fairly accurately hybrid yield under well-watered environments. It was concluded that extra-early inbreds and hybrids are not only drought escaping but also possess drought and low-N tolerant genes.

Identification of early-maturing maize inbred lines based on multiple traits under drought and low N environments for hybrid development and population improvement

Tue, 15 May 2012 06:13 GMT

Document Type: Journal Article
Creator: Badu-Apraku, B.; Akinwale, R.

Production Year: 2011

Citation: Badu-Apraku, B.; Akinwale, R. Identification of early-maturing maize inbred lines based on multiple traits under drought and low N environments for hybrid development and population improvement. Canadian Journal of Plant Science (2011) 91 (5) 931-942. [DOI: 10.4141/cjps2010-021]

Summary: Drought and low nitrogen stresses are major limiting factors to maize (Zea mays L.) production and productivity in West and Central Africa. Studies were conducted from 2007 to 2009 at three locations in Nigeria under induced drought stress and low nitrogen conditions. The objective was to identify superior inbred lines for use as parents for hybrid production and for introgression into maize breeding populations. The inbreds TZEI 17, TZEI 13, TZEI 23, TZEI 2, TZEI 3, TZEI 22, TZEI 7, TZEI 11, and TZEI 8 were identified as the most promising parents under drought stress. Under low N, TZEI 7, TZEI 11, TZEI 2, TZEI 4, TZEI 10, TZEI 8, and TZEI 22 were selected. TZEI 11, TZEI 2, TZEI 8, and TZEI 22 had combined tolerance to drought stress and low N and could be used as germplasm sources for introgression of tolerance genes as well as for the development of drought and/or low-N-tolerant hybrids. Under drought stress, TZEI 17, TZEI 3, TZEI 23, and TZEI 13 were the closest to the ideal genotype, while TZEI 7, TZEI 2, and TZEI 11 were the closest under low-N conditions.

Making health markets work better for poor people: the case of informal providers

Tue, 15 May 2012 03:46 GMT

Document Type: Journal Article
Creator: Bloom, G.; Standing, H.; Lucas, H.; Bhuiya, A.; Oladepo, O.; Peters, D.H.

Production Year: 2011

Citation: Bloom, G.; Standing, H.; Lucas, H.; Bhuiya, A.; Oladepo, O.; Peters, D.H. Making health markets work better for poor people: the case of informal providers. Health Policy and Planning (2011) 26 (Suppl. 1) i45-i52. [DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czr025]

Summary: There has been a dramatic spread of market relationships in many low- and middle-income countries. This spread has been much faster than the development of the institutional arrangements to influence the performance of health service providers. In many countries poor people obtain a large proportion of their outpatient medical care and drugs from informal providers working outside a regulatory framework, with deleterious consequences in terms of the safety and efficacy of treatment and its cost. Interventions that focus only on improving the knowledge of these providers have had limited impact. There is a considerable amount of experience in other sectors with interventions for improving the performance of markets that poor people use. This paper applies lessons from this experience to the issue of informal providers, drawing on the findings of studies in Bangladesh and Nigeria. These studies analyse the markets for informal health care services in terms of the sources of health-related knowledge for the providers, the livelihood strategies of these providers and the institutional arrangements within which they build and maintain their reputation. The paper concludes that there is a need to build a systematic understanding of these markets to support collaboration between key actors in building institutional arrangements that provide incentives for better performance.

Quantity, Quality, and Price in Informal Market for Anti-malarials in Nigeria

Tue, 15 May 2012 02:35 GMT

Document Type: Video
Creator: Oladepo, O.

Production Year: 2011

Citation: Oladepo, O. Quantity, Quality, and Price in Informal Market for Anti-malarials in Nigeria. (2011) [11 min 22 sec]

Summary: Oladimeji Oladepo from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria discusses findings from recent FHS research on the role of patent medicine vendors in the informal market for anti-malarials in Nigeria. The presentation was given at iHEA 2011.

FHS Inception Phase Report

Fri, 11 May 2012 08:31 GMT

Document Type: Report

Production Year: 2011

Citation: Anon. FHS Inception Phase Report. (2011) 16 pp.

Summary: The Inception Phase for the second phase of the Future Health Systems Research Program Consortium lasted from January-August 2011. This report summarizes the progress made during that time and lays out a plan of action for the next five years of work. In particular, the report summarizes progress made on research (including different analytical frameworks, themes and methodologies), management, capacity development, policy influence and research uptake and monitoring and evaluation of the program.

Making informal health providers work better for the poor: Lessons from Nigeria and Bangladesh

Fri, 11 May 2012 07:01 GMT

Document Type: Video
Creator: Bloom, G.

Production Year: 2011

Citation: Bloom, G. Making informal health providers work better for the poor: Lessons from Nigeria and Bangladesh. (2011) [16 min 46 sec]

Summary: Dr Gerry Bloom from the Institute of Development studies presents to the M4P (Markets for the Poor) Conference in Brighton, UK, on 8 November 2011. In this presentation, Dr Bloom shares research undertaken with partners (the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and ICDDR,B in Bangladesh) on the role of informal providers in health markets in Nigeria and Bangladesh. He argues that the health sector does function like a market (with 65% of users going to informal providers in Bangladesh, for example). In order to improve health services for the poor, we need to recognise and engage these markets.

Nigeria talks climate

Thu, 03 May 2012 02:29 GMT

Document Type: Report
Creator: Cooke, S.; Anu Mohammed

Production Year: 2010

Citation: Cooke, S.; Mohammed, A. Nigeria talks climate. BBC World Service Trust, London, UK (2010) 15 pp.

Summary: From May to September 2008, the BBC World Service Trust’s Research and Learning Group, on behalf of the British Council, conducted research in Nigeria to gauge public understanding of climate change. The research consisted of 24 focus-group discussions with Nigerian citizens, as well as 31 in-depth interviews with opinion leaders from government, religious institutions, the private sector, the media and civil society. The overall objective was to find out what people think about climate change, and how to tailor communication and media strategies to support Nigeria’s response to climate change. Key findings and recommendations are presented in this report. It is found that most Nigeriansi do not understand the science of climate change, but have, however, noticed changes in the weather and seasons.

Religions and development in India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Tazinia: inspirational or inhibiting? Policy Brief 21.

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 06:58 GMT

Document Type: Briefing

Production Year: 2011

Citation: Anon. Religions and development in India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Tazinia: inspirational or inhibiting? Policy Brief 21. Religions and Development Research Programme, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK (2011) 8 pp. [Policy Brief No. 21, Religions and Development Research Programme]

Violent Conflict and its Aftermath in Jos and Kano, Nigeria: What is the Role of Religion?

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 06:30 GMT

Document Type: Working Paper
Creator: Best, S.G.; Rakodi, C.

Production Year: 2011

Citation: Best, S.G.; Rakodi, C. Violent Conflict and its Aftermath in Jos and Kano, Nigeria: What is the Role of Religion? International Development Department, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK (2011) 127 pp. ISBN 978-0-7044-2886-7 [Working Paper No. 69, Religions and Development Research Programme]

Summary: This study examined protracted inter-religious conflict in Nigeria, focusing on recent violent episodes and their aftermath. The research was constructed in Kano (in a predominantly Muslim state) and Jos in the religiously mixed Middle Belt. The study uses secondary sources, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions to examine the role of religion in the causes, triggers and consequences of the violence.