Napier grass smut and
stunt resistance
ASARECA Project 06/RC01-FC-2-02 (LFP PRJ 12)
A partnership approach to mitigate the effects of Napier diseases on smallholder dairy
Presented at the ASARECA/ILRI Workshop on Mitigating the Impact of Napier Grass Smut and Stunt Diseases, Addis Ababa, June 2-3, 2010
Napier grass is grown extensively in Kenya and Uganda by smallholder farmers as feed for stall fed dairy cows
Napier grass smut and stunt both
severely reduce plant biomass production. This is limiting feed
availability for smallholder farmers
Napier grass smut
Napier grass stunt
Effect of Napier grass stunt on fodder yield,
Uganda
2007
2009
Surveys and
collections
Technical progress Uganda Kenya
Tanzania
Morphological characterisation and biomass trials in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda
Napier grass from national collections selected for replicate trials on basis of disease resistance, high yield and variation in morphology
Napier grass characterised for morphological traits using standard protocol. Traits can be used to select clones desirable to farmers, less hairy and serrated
High yielding clones identified in each national trial
Nutritional quality and molecular diversity of clones in trials in the region
Near Infra Red Spectral analysisM57 M58 M59
M60 M61 M62
M63 M64
Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism analysis
Disease incidence and severity to identify
more disease tolerant clones
Replicated trials planted with spreader rows of infected plants for field challenge for stunt
Disease scored after each harvest
Uganda all clones susceptible to stunt
Clones showing tolerance planted for further challenge with vector
Promising clones in Kenya and Tanzania
Molecular diagnostics
Napier grass smut• Ustilago kamerunensis sequenced for first time• Primers and probe designed for PCR and Nucleic Acid
Hybridisation
Napier grass stunt• Better primers and probe designed for detection of phytoplasma
strains causing Napier grass stunt in Ethiopia and Kenya & Uganda
• Stunt in Tanzania identified as group XI, like that in Kenya and Uganda
Capacity building• Training manual prepared• Training next week to share techniques with regional partners for
use in their institutes or BecA nodes in their countries
Collecting and sharing information
During surveys:• collecting information on:
– disease extent and severity– best practices to manage the diseases
• raising awareness of smut and stunt, especially in Tanzania where they had not been recorded previously
Knowledge sharing
Knowledge sharing
Then:• raising awareness of smut and
stunt• sharing best management
practices• getting feedback
Using a variety of means:• leaflets• posters• drama• participatory assessment
• song• radio & TV• website
Knowledge sharing
In different settings:
• on farm
• at markets
• at roadside
• at stakeholder meetings
• at agricultural shows
• at field days
Knowledge sharing
Influencing policy
Building capacity
Regional relevance and linkages
• Disease identification
• Morphological characterisation
• Nutritional analysis
• Molecular characterisation
• Molecular diagnostics
• Outcome mapping for M&E
Thank you to ASARECA and ADB for funding this work
which is working to ensure that farmers have productive disease free Napier grass for their cows to help feed and support their families, while meeting ASARECA objectives: