Browsing by Author "Mamiro, D.P."

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Effect of sources and storage conditions on quality of sorghum seeds
(Tanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2014) Mamiro, D.P.; Clement, G.
A study was conducted in three agro-ecological zones of Tanzania to investigate sources, status, quality and storage conditions of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) seeds. Sorghum seed samples were collected from Kwimba (Lake zone), Chamwino (Central zone) and Kilosa (Eastern zone) districts. In surveyed districts 83.3 % of farmers were using farmer saved seeds while 16.7 % were using improved sorghum seeds. In surveyed areas, 85 % of seed samples were obtained from small scale farmers as farmer saved seeds, 1.7% from seed stockists and 13.3% from agriculture research institutions. Seeds were found stored in the households (86.7%) and in go-down in case of seeds stockists (13.3%). The laboratory purity analysis test results indicated that Kwimba had pure seeds of 94.4%, Chamwino 96.5% and Kilosa 99.0%. Inert matters; Kwimba 5.3%, Chamwino 1.8% and Kilosa 1.0%. The non-sorghum seeds observed were Kwimba 0.2%, Chamwino 1.8% and Kilosa 0%. The results were significantly different at P<0.001 from one agro-ecological zones to another. The germination test of sorghum seeds varied highly significantly (P<0.001) from Kwimba 74%, Chamwino 88% and Kilosa 85%. Seed-borne fungal species found in the samples from the study areas were Fusarium moniliforme, Bipolaris sorghicola, Curvularia lunata, Colletotrichum graminicola and Phoma sorghina. Samples collected from Eastern zone had the highest infection by fungi. Other pathogens Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Penicillium spp., Claviceps spp. and Rhizopus spp. were found infecting seeds. Central agro-ecological zone is proposed to be better for sorghum seeds production for healthier seeds due to non-fungal infection observed in this study.
Effects of weaver ants on fruitfly and disease-inflicted postharvest losses of oranges in small-scale farming in Tanzania
(2015) Msogoya, T.J.; Mamiro, D.P.; Mtui, H.D.
The objective of this was to evaluate the effect of African weaver ant (Oecophylla longinoda) on fruit fly disease-inflicted postharvest losses of oranges in small-scale farming in Coast region, Tanzania. The treatments consisted of weaver ant population estimated based on the number of nests (0, 2, 5 and 8) of weaver ants per tree and each was replicated three times. Orange fruits were randomly picked from farmers’ orchards at color breaker stage and were immediately transported and placed on benches in a postharvest laboratory at Sokoine University of Agriculture with average temperature of 19 and 28 °C during the night and day, respectively. Data were subjected to analysis of variance using GenStat Statistical Programme 12th Edition and treatment means separation was conducted based on LSD test at P ≤ 5 %. Results indicated that the incidence of fruit fly infection in orange fruits significantly (P < 0.05) decreased from 0.8 to 0.4 % as weaver ant population increased from 0 to at 2 nests per tree and the average number of pupae per fruit decreased from 0.58 to 0.04, respectively. Similarly, orange fruit decays significantly (P < 0.05) decreased from 20.4 to 10.2 % as weaver ant population increased from 0 to 2 nests per tree. Specifically, the incidence of decays due to anthracnose (Colletotrichium gloeosporioides Sacc.) decreased from 11.1 to 7.8 % and that caused by green moulds (Penicillium italicum Wehmer) decreased from 9.3 to 2.4 % as weaver ant population increased from 0 to 2 nests per tree. It is concluded that two nests of weaver ants per tree is an optimal population for substantial reduction of orange postharvest losses caused by fruit fly and fungal infections. The use of weaver ants can find wide applications in organic farming and small-scale orange farming where pesticide application is unaffordable. As the number of weaver ants per nest may differ, further studies are recommended to determine the actual number of weaver ants that can effectively reduce fruit fly and disease-inflicted decays, particularly in small-scale mixed cropping systems.
Effects of weaver ants on fruitfly and disease-inflicted postharvest losses of oranges in small-scale farming in Tanzania
(1998) Msogoya, T.J.; Mamiro, D.P.; Mtui, H.D.
The objective of this was to evaluate the effect of African weaver ant (Oecophylla longinoda) on fruit fly disease-inflicted postharvest losses of oranges in small-scale farming in Coast region, Tanzania. The treatments consisted of weaver ant population estimated based on the number of nests (0, 2, 5 and 8) of weaver ants per tree and each was replicated three times. Orange fruits were randomly picked from farmers’ orchards at color breaker stage and were immediately transported and placed on benches in a postharvest laboratory at Sokoine University of Agriculture with average temperature of 19 and 28 °C during the night and day, respectively. Data were subjected to analysis of variance using GenStat Statistical Programme 12th Edition and treatment means separation was conducted based on LSD test at P ≤ 5 %. Results indicated that the incidence of fruit fly infection in orange fruits significantly (P < 0.05) decreased from 0.8 to 0.4 % as weaver ant population increased from 0 to at 2 nests per tree and the average number of pupae per fruit decreased from 0.58 to 0.04, respectively. Similarly, orange fruit decays significantly (P < 0.05) decreased from 20.4 to 10.2 % as weaver ant population increased from 0 to 2 nests per tree. Specifically, the incidence of decays due to anthracnose (Colletotrichium gloeosporioides Sacc.) decreased from 11.1 to 7.8 % and that caused by green moulds (Penicillium italicum Wehmer) decreased from 9.3 to 2.4 % as weaver ant population increased from 0 to 2 nests per tree. It is concluded that two nests of weaver ants per tree is an optimal population for substantial reduction of orange postharvest losses caused by fruit fly and fungal infections. The use of weaver ants can find wide applications in organic farming and small-scale orange farming where pesticide application is unaffordable. As the number of weaver ants per nest may differ, further studies are recommended to determine the actual number of weaver ants that can effectively reduce fruit fly and disease-inflicted decays, particularly in small-scale mixed cropping systems.