Browsing by Author "Mwatawala, Maulid"

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Description of new ceratitis species (Diptera: Tephritidae) from Africa, or how morphological and DNA data are complementary in discovering unknown species and matching sexes
(European Journal of Taxonomy, 2016) De Meyer, Marc; Mwatawala, Maulid; Copeland, Robert S; Virgilio, Massimiliano
This paper describes five new Ceratitis species from the eastern and southern parts of the Afrotropical Region: C. (Pterandrus) quilicii De Meyer, Mwatawala & Virgilio sp. nov.; C.(Ceratalaspis) pallidula De Meyer, Mwatawala & Virgilio sp. nov.; C. (Ceratalaspis) taitaensis De Meyer & Copeland sp. nov.; C. (Ceratalaspis) sawahilensis De Meyer & Virgilio sp. nov.; and C. (Ceratalaspis) flavipennata De Meyer & Virgilio sp. nov. Their relationships with closely allied species within their respective subgenera are discussed where appropriate, and diagnostic characters are given. DNA barcodes are provided for all new species. In addition, the hitherto unknown male of C. (Pardalaspis) serrata De Meyer, 1996 is described, based on material collected in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Recognition of these new species and sexes is the result of an integrative approach using morphological characters and DNA data
Dynamics of infestation and losses of stored maize due to the larger grain borer (Prostephanus truncatus Horn) and maize weevils (Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky)
(2010-09) Makundi, Rhodes H.; Swila, Ntuli N.; Misangu, Robert N; Reuben, Shazia W.M.; Mwatawala, Maulid; Sikira, Anna; Kilonzo, Bukhet S; Lyimo, H.; Massawe, Apia W.; Ishengoma, Christine
The dynamics of infestation and losses of stored maize due to the larger grain borer (Prostephanus truncatus Horn) and maize weevils (Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky) were investigated in Tanzania. In single species populations, significantly higher maize damage (P 0.05) was caused by P. truncatus (23.3%) compared to S. zeamais (6.4%). Weight losses caused by P. truncatus were higher (12.7%) than for S. zeamais (6.7%) under similar conditions. A higher proportion of P. truncatus in the initial infestation population led to significantly higher ( 0.05) maize damage compared to equal or higher proportions of S. zeamais. Irrespective of the initial number of S. zeamais, population size increased to levels higher than for P. truncatus. Maize losses in unimproved storage structures were480% compared to52.5% in improved structures under natural infestation. Inter-specific competition appeared to influence the dynamics of infestation, damage levels and weight losses. The first two months of storage were critical for damaging insect populations to build up.
An economic comparison of biological and conventional control Strategies for insect pests in cashew and mango Plantations in Tanzania
(2013) Juma George, William; Hella, Joseph; Esbjerg, Lars; Mwatawala, Maulid; Rwegasira, Gration
This study was undertaken to compare alternative methods of pest control for insect pests in order to determine which methods has the highest efficacy against insect pests and the least detrimental side effects, while maintaining production and profits. The analysis was based on the experimental trials for three treatments: weaver ants, chemical insecticides and control. Data on yields, quantities and prices of inputs and output were collected and analyzed using inferential statistics (t-test), partial budgetary technique and marginal analysis involving dominance analysis. The results of partial budget analysis shows that a change from chemical insecticides treatment to weaver ants returned net benefits greater than zero by Tsh. 692 923 and Tsh.1019665 in cashew and mango plantations respectively. Similarly, positive net benefits was obtained when growers change from control to weaver ants treatment by Tsh. 504 989 and Tsh. 891 297 in cashew and mango plantations. The dominance and MRRanalyses shows that if cashew and mango growers change from conventional agricultural practices to weaver ants, they would earn MRR of 1621% which is above minimum acceptable rate of return (MARR) of 100%. The t-test analyses show that weaver ant treatment is superior over conventional agricultural practices. The study concludes that weaver ant treatment was economically feasible and financially undertaking. Further field experimental trials will be repeated in the next two growing seasons to confirm results obtained in
Evaluation of post-harvest losses and shelf life of fresh mango (Mangifera indica L.) in Eastern zone of Tanzania
(Taylor & Francis Group, 2019-12) Baltazari, Anna; Mtui, Hosea; Chove, Lucy; Msogoya, Theodosy; Kudra, Abdul; Tryphone, George; Samwel, Jaspa; Paliyath, Gopinadhan; Sullivan, Alan; Subramanian, Jayasankar; Mwatawala, Maulid
Post-harvest loss negatively impacts food security, nutrition and economic stability of farmers, exporters, traders and consumers. Experiments were conducted to assess the effects of post-harvest techniques on the shelf life of Apple and Palmer mango cultivars under different storage conditions. Post-harvest losses of these fruit along the supply chain were also evaluated. A two-factors factorial experiment with six replications was used for each culti- var. Post-harvest techniques included dipping of fruit in hexanal solution (0.02% v/v), calcium chloride solution (2% w/v), smoke treatments and untreated fruit. The fruit were then stored at two different storage conditions namely: ambient temperature (28 ± 2°C) and cold storage (18 ± 2 ° C). Shelf life data was analyzed by using R-software. Mean separation was done by using Tukey Honestly Significant Difference at (p ≤ 0.05). Results showed that the major sites of post-harvest losses were at harvest, transport, wholesale and retail stages of supply chain. Furthermore, post- harvest treatments of fruit with hexanal and calcium chloride significantly increased shelf life and reduced disease incidences compared to untreated control and smoke-treated fruit. Cold storage significantly increased shelf life of mango fruit compared to ambient storage. Therefore, hexanal, calcium chloride and cold storage are recommended to extend fruit shelf life, maintain fruit firmness and to reduce disease incidences in mango fruit.
Host use of bactrocera latifrons, a new invasive tephritid species in Tanzania
(Entomological Society of America, 2010-02) Makundi, Rhodes H; Mziray, Hendry A; Mwatawala, Maulid; Maerere, Amon; Meyer, Marc DE
Bactrocera latifrons (Hendel) is a pest of Asian origin, Þrst detected in Africa in 2006. We assessed the host utilization of this quarantine pest in Morogoro region, eastern central Tanzania, by collecting a wide range of cultivated and wild host plants of species belonging to Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae from April 2007 to April 2008. Fruit were collected from 29 plant species and varieties (16 Solanaceae and 13 Cucurbitaceae) in all agroecological zones of Morogoro region. Twelve solanaceous fruit species yielded B. latifrons of which four are new host records: Capsicum annuum L. cov. longum A. DC., Capsicum chinense Jacq., Solanum sodomeum L., and Solanum scabrum Mill. Similarly, three cucurbitaceous fruit species provided positive rearings and are new host records: Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum & Nakai, Cucumis dipsaceus L., and Momordica cf trifoliata L. The infestation rate and incidence of the pest was mainly high in the solanaceous hosts of nightshades (Solanum nigrum L. and Solanum scabrum) and African eggplants (Solanum aethiopicum Lam. and Solanum anguivi). In a host preference study involving limited number of cultivated solanaceous crops, S. scabrum was recorded as the most preferred host. The pest has been found to outnumber Bactrocera invadens (Drew et al.), Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett), and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) in most of the common solanaceous hosts.