Fredrick Tuitoek Kipsang was born in September, 1990 in Maregut, Baringo North constituency. He started schooling at Kinyach Primary School where he successfully sat for his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in 2004. He joined Kituro High School in the next year of 2005, sat for his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and honorary cleared with the institution in the year 2008. In August, 2010, Fredrick received a calling letter from Moi University to pursue Bachelors of Science in Agricultural Biotechnology. He joined Chepkoilel Campus, currently the chartered University of Eldoret and successfully graduated in November, 2014. Since the date of graduation, Kipsang has been engaged in a series of short-term work assignments including being an intern at the state department for irrigation where he competitively earned sponsorship to further his studies. He enrolled with the University of Nairobi in September, 2019 to pursue Master of Science in Plant Breeding and Biotechnology. Fredrick has since then participated actively in scientific conferences and published his research findings. He remains open to engagements aimed at enhancing self, national and global wellbeing.
Abstract
Aluminium toxicity limits production of sorghum in soils with pH<5.0. It restricts root elongation lowering the absorption of water and nutrients, eventually, plant growth and yield are affected. Liming, a most adopted remedy against Al toxicity proves costly and unsustainable, however, deployment of tolerant genotypes could sustainably aid in management of the constraint. Magnavaca solution screening was used in phenotypic evaluation of selected lines for Al tolerance. Root growth parameters including net root length, relative root length and root tolerance index were computed and applied in establishing the genotypes’ tolerance status in reference to standard scales. Results from ANOVA showed that genotypes varied significantly (P<.001) in response to Al stress. Genotypes Gadam and Wagita were tolerant, Macia and Kiboko local 2 moderately tolerant while a remainder of 8 genotypes expressed sensitivity. Four specific SSR markers were used to validate sorghum genotypes with Al tolerance genes. DNA from each genotype was extracted, quantified and subjected to PCR. Amplicons were detected through electrophoresis and band patterns of the genotypes analyzed in respect to the checks. Validation of the genotypes was largely achieved through marker Xtxp34. Based on the marker, genotypes Gadam, Wagita and Macia had identical band pattern to the tolerant check IS 41764 and were considered Al tolerant. The rest of the genotypes shared the same band pattern with the sensitive check Seredo hence categorized as Al sensitive. The observed existence of variability and potential for Al tolerance in sorghum germplasm provides basis for selection of parental lines for breeding against the stress.
Research Supervisors
1. Dr. Juliana J. Cheboi
2. Dr. Felister M. Nzuve
