A gene (temporarily designated Hdic) conferring resistance to the Hessian fly (Hf) [Mayetiola destructor (Say)] was previously identified from an accession of German cultivated emmer wheat [Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccum (Schrank ex Schübler) Thell] PI 94641, and was transferred to the Hf-resistant wheat germplasm KS99WGRC42. The inheritance of Hdic resistance exhibited incomplete penetrance because phenotypes of some heterozygous progenies are fully resistant and the others are fully susceptible. Five simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers (Xgwm136,Xcfa2153, Xpsp2999,Xgwm33, and Xbarc263) were linked to the Hdic gene on the short arm of wheat chromosome 1A in the same region as the H9, H10, and H11 loci. Flanking markers Xgwm33 and Xcfa2153 were mapped at distances 0.6 cM proximal and 1.4 cM distal, respectively. Marker analysis revealed that a very small intercalary chromosomal segment containing Hdic was transferred from emmer wheat to KS99WGRC42. This is the first emmer-derived Hf-resistance gene that has been mapped and characterized. The Hdic gene confers a high level of antibiosis to biotypes GP and L, as well as to strains vH9 and vH13 of the Hf, which is different from the biotype reaction patterns of the known Hf-resistance genes on chromosome 1A (H5 and H11 susceptible to biotype L, H9 and H10 susceptible to strain vH9). These results suggested that Hdic is either a new gene or a novel allele of a known H gene on chromosome 1A. The broad spectrum of resistance conferred by the Hdic gene makes it valuable for developing Hf resistant wheat cultivars.

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The genotype and environment interaction influences the selection criteria of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) genotypes. Eight sweet sorghum genotypes were evaluated at five different locations in two growing seasons of 2014. The aim was to determine the interaction between genotype and environment on cane, juice, and ethanol yield and to identify best genotypes for bioethanol production in Kenya. The experiments were conducted in a randomized complete block design replicated three times. Sorghum canes were harvested at hard dough stage of grain development and passed through rollers to obtain juice that was then fermented to obtain ethanol. Cane, juice, and ethanol yield was analyzed using the additive main effect and multiplication interaction model (AMMI) and genotype plus genotype by environment (GGE) biplot. The combined analysis of variance of cane and juice yield of sorghum genotypes showed that sweet sorghum genotypes were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by environments (E), genotypes (G) and genotype by environment interaction (GEI). GGE biplot showed high yielding genotypes EUSS10, ACFC003/12, SS14, and EUSS11 for cane yield; EUSS10, EUSS11, and SS14 for juice yield; and EUSS10, SS04, SS14, and ACFC003/12 for ethanol yield. Genotype SS14 showed high general adaptability for cane, juice, and ethanol yield.

The presence of natural antioxidant capacity in plants has been well documented world over. There is an increasing demand for natural antioxidant to replace synthetic additives in the food and pharmacologicals. The objective of this study is to evaluate the invivo antioxidant potential of ethanol extract of Annona muricata against CCl 4-induced toxicity in rats as well as its invitro antioxidant effect and lipid peroxidation. The extract was prepared by cold maceration using absolute ethanol. The invitro antioxidant properties of the extract was determined using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhdrazyl) radical and invivo antioxidant enzymes were assayed to evaluate the biological activities of the extract. The polyphenol content of the extract was determined and it contained alkaloids, tannin, flavonoids, phenol in appreciable amount. In the invivo studies, the animals were grouped into three (3) groups of 15 rats each. Group 1 served as control and received 1ml/kg b.w of olive oil orally for 28 days. Group 2 rats were orally administered 1ml/kg CCl 4 mixed with olive oil (1:10) daily for 28 days while group 3 rats were administered 1ml/kg CCl 4 and 200 mg/kg b.w of Annona muricata stem extract. Three of the rats from each group were sacrificed on days 1, 8, 15, 22 and 28. The plant extract showed remarkable hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity against carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4) induced oxidative stress as revealed from serum enzyme markers. CCl 4 induced a significant rise (p<0.001) in aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and MDA (malondialdehyde) level in the serum with a reduction in catalase activity. Treatment of rats with the plant extract (200mg/kg b.w) significantly altered both serum enzymes activities and oxidant levels to near normal against CCl 4-treated rats. The invivo and invitro rapid radical scavenging studies were positive for the stem bark extract. This study suggests that the possible mechanism of the exhibited biological activities of the extract may be due to free radical scavenging owing to the presence of polyphenols in the extract. The plant extract possesses, antioxidant, anti-lipid peroxidation effect and is hepatoprotective. These may be the rationale for its folkloric uses and pharmacological effects.

Harvesting stage of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) cane is an important aspect in the content of sugar for production of industrial alcohol. Four sweet sorghum genotypes were evaluated for harvesting stage in a randomized complete block design. In order to determine sorghum harvest growth stage for bioethanol production, sorghum canes were harvested at intervals of seven days after anthesis. The genotypes were evaluated at different stages of development for maximum production of bioethanol from flowering to physiological maturity. The canes were crushed and juice fermented to produce ethanol. Measurements of chlorophyll were taken at various stages as well as panicles from the harvested canes. Dried kernels at 14% moisture content were also weighed at various stages. Chlorophyll, grain weight, absolute ethanol volume, juice volume, cane yield, and brix showed significant (p = 0.05) differences for genotypes as well as the stages of harvesting. Results from this study showed that harvesting sweet sorghum at stages IV and V (104 to 117 days after planting) would be appropriate for production of kernels and ethanol. EUSS10 has the highest ethanol potential (1062.78 l ha−1) due to excellent juice volume (22976.9 l ha−1) and EUSS11 (985.26 l ha−1) due to its high brix (16.21).