“This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Kenyatta University and the partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the ACP Group of States or the European Union.”
ACTIVITIES UNDER THE EDULINK-ESA FED/2013/320-14: KENYATTA UNIVERSITY
Greenhouse Activities
Greenhouses were constructed with an aim to improve the teaching-learning process through
providing practical experiences for students. They are also meant for research purposes for
students and staff at Kenyatta University. The EDULINK research assistants have been assisting
with the various activities in the greenhouse. The EDULINK research greenhouses at Kenyatta
University host undergraduate and postgraduate students’ research projects, from the school of
agriculture and enterprise development, department of agricultural science and technology. In the
academic year 2015/2016 some of the students who have their projects carried out in these
greenhouses include:
PhD, students-
1. Mr. Peter Mwirigi - Agronomy passion fruit research
2. Mr. Paul - Plant pathology -maize lethal necrosis
The undergraduate students
1. Mr. Charles Kinaro Maina - Effect of different rates of plant bio fertilizer on growth and
yield of kales- Brassica oleraceae var. acehalad.c, under hydroponics
2. Ms. Geanette Adhiambo Ochieng - Effect of Water Stress on Development of Cowpeas
Leaves
3. Mr. Mwaniki Dickson Murimi - Effect of Different Rates of Calcium Ammonium Nitrate
on Growth and Development of Tomatoes.
The support provided by the EDULINK Project included provision of equipments, guidance on
experiments designing and set up and key elements in data collections and recording.
“This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Kenyatta University and the partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the ACP Group of States or the European Union.”
Fig 1 (a) and (b): Undergraduate students’ experiments (potted plants)
Fig 3. Mr. Peter’s sweet yellow passion fruits orchard
Fig 4. A healthy sweet yellow passion fruit
“This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Kenyatta University and the partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the ACP Group of States or the European Union.”
Fig 5. Ms. Geanette preparing planting pots
Fig. 6: Mr. Paul inspecting maize cobs for thrips
Banana Macropropagation
Macropropagation is an alternative cost effective technology to produce healthy banana
seedlings that are affordable to small holder farmers. This technology was exhibited during the
Kenyatta University @30 celebrations.
“This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Kenyatta University and the partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the ACP Group of States or the European Union.”
Banana (Musa spp.) is one of the crops of economic importance in Kenya, being utilized as fruits
(ripe) and for meal preparation (cooked).Production is high in Meru, Embu, Kisii and Kirinyaga
counties. However, the challenge of pests like (banana weevil, bacterial, fungal and nematode
attacks results in lower yields. Banana is normally propagated using corms and tissue cultured
seedlings (TS). It has been very difficult to control the pests and disease where corms are in use.
Also the TS seedlings are expensive and unaffordable to most farmers. Another hindrance to
increased production is the low rate of corms development hence; farmers get insufficient clean
planting materials.
Experiment on Banana macro propagation has been a measure of a feasibility study of use of
simple locally available materials in a measure for an easy and cheap procedure of obtaining
clean planting materials. Cultivars of desirable traits can be easily multiplied using this method.
Fig 1. A simple Macro-propagation unit
Fig 2: A 2 week old treated corm, in the macro-propagation unit
“This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Kenyatta University and the partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the ACP Group of States or the European Union.”
Strawberry Production
Experiments are ongoing to enable understanding of seed based strawberry seedling production
systems, which can be utilized by researchers in varietal improvement activities.
Propagation of Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa ) is normally by use of suckers/splits as the seeds
exhibits seed dormancy as a result of hard seed coat, the embryo remains dormant until the
tough, outer seed coat is weakened, weakening can occur naturally when the ripe berries are
eaten by an animal. The outer coating breaks down inside the stomach with the aid of digestive
fluids. Due to this dormancy for commercial production strawberry propagation is by use of
plantlets (vegetative). Seeds can also be raised into new strawberry plants. This has some special
requirements, it works only to alpine varieties and few F1 cultivars, seeds from hybrids may not
germinate completely. Two varieties of strawberry seeds were obtained from Italy.
The two varieties are:
Fragaria vesca; also known as wild strawberry, woodland strawberry, alpine strawberry,
European strawberry. They produce edible fruits.
Fragaria ananassa; hybrid species of strawberry most common in commercial large
scale strawberry production
Objectives
This experiment was basically to enable understanding of seed based strawberry seedling
production systems, which can be utilized by researchers in varietal improvement activities.
Seed dormancy:
Breaking seed dormancy is necessary to encourage development of strawberry plants from seeds,
this is normally attained through a number of process and procedures, some of the best defined
and elaborate processes include stratification and scarification.
Procedure A (Stratification)
It is achieved through low temperature treatment, this has been referred to as pre-chilling
treatment and also as freezing. The process is done at freezing temperatures basically below 50C,
“This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Kenyatta University and the partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the ACP Group of States or the European Union.”
though, in the normal setting variation do occur (temperate regions). This stratification can be
done through:
(i)
Placing seeds in packets and in sealed, airtight containers in a freezer for 3-4 weeks.
The seeds should not be broken during the process to avoid any entry of water
(crystallized liquid)
Obtain the packets from the freezer, and allow it to get warmth to room temperature
before opening to obtain the seeds for sowing.
(ii)
Mix equal volume of moist sand and or peat to that of the seeds (dry seeds)
Put in airtight container and seal
Store in a refrigerator under freezing conditions for a week or two, the period varies with
variety.
The seeds are allowed to attain room temperatures then they are ready for sowing.
Procedure B (Chemical treatment)
In this procedure, there is mimicking the chemical activity/process that breaks seed dormancy
when strawberry seeds pass through the animals’ digestive systems, some synthetic chemicals
have been developed and are in use, the process is achieved by soaking the strawberry seeds in
250 to 2500 ppm CEPA (2- Chloroethylphosphoric acid), for 24 hours, after which the seeds will
be ready for sowing.
At times, direct sowing of the seed is done
Procedure C (Seed coat scarification)
Strawberry seeds can be treated to break dormancy by the normal scarification of the seed coat
by sandpaper or a knife like tool, this is basically to weaken the seed coat and enhance entry of
oxygen and subsequently water.
Procedure D (Natural stratification)
“This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Kenyatta University and the partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the ACP Group of States or the European Union.”
At time, strawberry seed dormancy can be removed or be cracked open (a term for softening
hard seeds), by leaving them outdoors through the cold winter, the constant freezing and thawing
will be enough to get the seeds to eventually crack. This process is known as natural
stratification. This is a traditional way for temperate regions only.
Requirement for germination
(a). Materials
1) Planting trays, special trays
2) Thick cloth material
3) Water bucket
4) Certified, clean strawberry seeds after freezing
5) Soil (sterilized soil) or other planting medium such as peat moss, or clean compost manure
6) Spray bottle
7) Distilled water
8) Paper towel
9) Mist propagation unit
SOWING
The propagation unit is to allow a humid condition, in what is known as misting. This can be
attained by having an enclosure to prevent escape of warm humid air, to be supplied by heated
unit base having a moist thick cloth on top.( placing the set up on top a fridge can supply
adequate heat)
Procedure
Using seed trays or small containers add a thin, one and a half inch thick layer of sterile
acidic soil or any other planting medium such as peat that is sterilized
Sprinkle the seeds on top of the thin layer
“This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Kenyatta University and the partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the ACP Group of States or the European Union.”
Lightly sprinkle a thin layer of sieved compost or potting material or planting media only
enough to cover the seeds. Ensure the straw berry seeds are not completely covered and
are exposed to light.
Moisten with water- use a spray bottle.
Allow to germinate on a windowsill, (keep them indoors), sometimes they can be kept in
a greenhouse.
All the above conditions are to be maintained, and the healthy viable strawberry seeds will start
germinating.
Germination process
Imbibition; seed coat swells and softens, at this phase the soil must remain moist continually. If
it doesn’t remain moist, there will be no further development.
Radicle emergence: after oxygen entry and water absorption through the now permeable seed
coat, a critical level, water absorption stops for a while, the seeds proteins become active through
enzymatic activities , metabolism of the food store peaks up, there is more respiration and cells
elongate , divide, increase in number leading to radicle development.
Shoot emergence; after radicle development; it is as a result of the relatively strong hypocotyl
that expands, curves and increases in size pushing the cotyledons to above the growth media
N/B:
Keep soil moist and well lighted. Warmth can help seeds germinate, for this a heat pad or
putting the tray on top of a refrigerator can provide enough warmth.
Pre cooling treatment can be avoided without loss of germination, cultivars that don’t
respond can be soaked in 250 to 2500 ppm CEPA-(2 – Chloroethyl phosphoric acid) for
24 hours.
Heat/warmth may be required but not an absolute requirement for germination.
Pre-cooling period is 2 to 4 weeks, this time period has not been clarified, no records for
the adequate period of pre-chilling, there may be a variation in cultivars, and hence
medium time frame of about 4 weeks to 6 weeks may be suitable.
“This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Kenyatta University and the partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the ACP Group of States or the European Union.”
In experiments, it had earlier on been noted that acceleration of germination of strawberry seeds
can be attained by natural and artificial infections of fungi-especially Ulocladium and
Arthrinium; other compounds such as vermicompost (vermitea) have been found to improve
germination to above 60%, others that can be used include: hydrogen peroxide, liquid karma, sea
weed, bacillus subtilis (bio fungicide), greensand, azomite, humic acid and root shield.
Observations
Initial experiments were carried out, in which planting was on sterilize media. Germination took
place from 10 to 15 days, and the results have been indicative of high germination at 4 weeks
freezing. This activity is ongoing with plans to use foliar fertilizer both phosphatic and
nitrogenous to enhance root and foliar development of young seedlings.
Fig 1.Young strawberry seedlings
“This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Kenyatta University and the partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the ACP Group of States or the European Union.”
Experiment on optimization of performance of the chandler variety with exclusion of
synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.
STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION
A study of productivity of strawberries, variety chandler under organic production conditions is
underway. The main objective in this work revolves around optimization of performance of this
variety with exclusion of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. To achieve this, the activity is
carried out at the greenhouse with optimum water application and physical exclusion of pests,
there is use of clean planting materials and clean (cow) manure.
Fig 1. Young strawberry plants
“This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Kenyatta University and the partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the ACP Group of States or the European Union.”
Fig 2. Manure (cow manure) applied on strawberry seedbed
Fig 3. Healthy strawberry with extensive stolons
“This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Kenyatta University and the partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the ACP Group of States or the European Union.”
Fig 4. Provision of organic (grass) mulch to strawberries
Fig 5. A closer view of a healthy (organic) strawberry fruit