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: