Diana Nafula Masika. Registration number A56/81125/2015. She pursued an MSc in Plant breeding and Biotechnology at the University of Nairobi. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Kenyatta University. Prior to joining the University of Nairobi, she worked at Kenya agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) as a research assistant focused on breeding for Cassava Mosaic Disease and Cassava Brown Streak Disease resistance. Her thesis research was on Sugarcane Mosaic Virus in maize. She’s interested and hopes to pursue a career in food security, energy, environment and climate change.
Abstract
Maize lethal necrosis (MLN) in Kenya was reported in 2011 in Bomet County. It’s caused by viruses MCMV and SCMV. The study’s objectives were to identify germplasm with resistance to SCMV and to identify the mode of gene action for tolerance to the virus. 42 parental maize genotypes were planted in a screen house in a completely randomized design, inoculated with SCMV and data on disease severity and incidence collected. ANOVA tests were conducted on disease severity, disease incidence and AUDPC scores using GENSTAT statistical software and showed significant differences among the genotypes for all the parameters. Four genotypes had no symptoms and 27 had a score of between 2 to 2.8 termed tolerant. The rest had a score of 3 and above classified susceptible. Objective two, 448 maize genotypes consisting of 60 parents and 388 F1s were planted in 2016 and were self-pollinated and each cob harvested singly to give F2 population. Two populations namely 384 (parents UON-2015-50 × UON-2015-115) and 385 (parents UON-2015-50 × UON-2015-117) with the common parent 50 previously identified as resistant to MLN were selected. 150 seeds of each F2 derived families were planted in the screen house and artificially inoculated with SCMV and evaluated for disease symptoms for 6 weeks using the CIMMYT SCMV disease severity scale and then categorized as either resistant or susceptible. Chi-square goodness-of-fit test was done conforming to the 15:1 ratio which means the resistance to SCMV in these crosses could be controlled by major genes with complementary epistatic effects.
Research Supervisors
- Dr. Felister Nzuve
- Prof. Douglas Miano
