activities under the edulink-esa fed/2013/320-14: …“this publication has been produced with the...

“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.


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


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.


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


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,


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)


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


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.


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


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


Fig 2. Manure (cow manure) applied on strawberry seedbed

Fig 3. Healthy strawberry with extensive stolons


Fig 4. Provision of organic (grass) mulch to strawberries

Fig 5. A closer view of a healthy (organic) strawberry fruit

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