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The triple burden of malnutrition is a problem that is being fought against at global, continental, regional and national levels. When consumed in adequate quantities, healthy diets are important in reversing the menace of malnutrition. In Kenya, grains are an important source of energy and micronutrients. Even though they contribute most energy and micronutrients, a huge Recommended Daily Allowance deficit still exists. Incorporating ancient grains such as quinoa which are nutrient-rich and can survive in harsh climatic zones into the diets, can boost the efforts made towards the fight against malnutrition. Though quinoa adaptation trials have been conducted in Kenya, expanded data on the nutrient content are yet to be compiled. Between May 2022 and August 2022, four varieties of quinoa; Cherry Vanilla, Titicaca, Brilliant Bright Red and Biobio were grown at the University of Nairobi, Upper Kabete campus field station. The harvests of the four varieties were separately analyzed to determine and compare the content levels of macronutrients (carbohydrates, crude protein, fats) and micro-nutrients (manganese, magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, copper and zinc). The four varieties were significantly different in all the analyzed elements except moisture content. Cherry vanilla had the highest level of crude protein (25.1[+ or -]0.3g/100g) and fat (11.46[+ or -]0.184g/100g) but the lowest level of carbohydrates (42.5[+ or -]0.4%). Titicaca had the highest amounts of; manganese (21.9[+ or -]0.06g/100g), potassium (511.9[+ or -]0.03mg/100g), iron (11.5[+ or -] 0.07mg/100g) and zinc (14.1[+ or -]0.0mg/100g). Biobio variety exhibited the highest amount of magnesium (73.9[+ or -]0.1mg/100g). In conclusion, the different varieties of quinoa significantly differ in their levels of macro and micronutrients. The Kenyan-grown quinoa has the potential to contribute to increased dietary intake of both macronutrients and micronutrients of children aged 2-6 years old. The Kenyan-grown quinoa contains levels of micronutrients in higher amounts compared to maize, rice and wheat - the commonly consumed cereals in Kenya. On this basis, the study recommends that the growing and consumption of quinoa should be promoted in Kenya and introduced into the diets of children aged 2-6 years of age in Kenya. Quinoa-based products for children aged 2-6 years should be developed. Climate zone-oriented agronomic trials on quinoa farming should be conducted. Key words: Quinoa, varieties, Cherry Vanilla, BBR, Titicaca, Biobio, micronutrients, macronutrients, INTRODUCTION Over the past three decades, significant effort has been made to battle the triple burden of malnutrition which encompasses undernutrition, overnutrition and micronutrient deficiency. According to the Joint Child [...]

Yield and fiber quality comparisons of modern vs. obsolete cultivars and Pee Dee (PD) germplasm lines represent a measure of genetic gain for these traits and can be used to establish a base for estimating future breeding accomplishments. We evaluated 29 commercial cultivars and PD germplasm lines of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), 12 modern and 17 obsolete, in two tests per year for a 3-yr period (1979, 1980, 1981). The soils were a Norfolk fine sandy loam (fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic Typic Kandiudult) and a Norfolk loamy sand at Florence, SC. We sought to determine what genetic improvements the new cultivars and germplasm lines had compared with the obsolete ones. Two modern cultivars, McNair 235 and SC-1 (a PD cultivar with extra fiber strength genes) produced 399 kg [ha.sup.-1] more lint than the obsolete cultivar, Earlistaple 7, and 522 kg [ha.sup.-1] more than the PD germplasm Line F. The rate of gain in yield of modern compared with obsolete cultivars and PD germplasm lines was 10.5 and 15.1 kg [ha.sup.-1] [yr.sup.-1], respectively. The actual rate of gain in related PD germplasm lines was 20.6 kg [ha.sup.-1] [yr.sup.-1]. A regression analysis of the average yields in South Carolina and the South Atlantic states from 1961 through 1987 showed that yields have significantly increased at the rate of 8.0 and 9.4 kg [ha.sup.-1] [yr.sup.-1], respectively. These data show that cotton breeders have made continuous progress in improving lint yield, without sacrificing fiber quality. This trend can be expected to continue. Simultaneous improvements in lint yield and fiber strength can be expected if emphasized in breeding programs., Twelve modern and 17 obsolete cultivars and Pee Dee (PD) germplasm lines of cotton were evaulated for genetic gains in terms of lint yield and fiber quality. The results showed that the rate of gain of modern compared with obsolete cultivars and PD germplasm lines was 10.5 and 15.1 kilograms per hectare per year, respectively. Furthermore, the average yields of South Atlantic States cotton increased significantly at a rate of 9.4 kilograms per hectare per year, from 1961 to 1987. These results show that the cotton breeding program has made significant progress through the years

Mating patterns have direct application to conservation because of their influence on structuring genetic diversity within and among populations and on maintaining that diversity over time. We measured population and family outcrossing rates, biparental inbreeding, correlation of outcrossed paternity, and inbreeding coefficients in six populations from throughout the ecological range of the endangered plant Eriogonum ovalifolium var. vineum using naturally pollinated families. The taxon was primarily outcrossed: population outcrossing rates averaged 0.80 (SE 0.03) and family outcrossing rates averaged 0.88 (SE 0.03); neither rate varied among populations. Five population rates were significantly different from 1 while family rates differed from 1 in only one population. We found high correlated outcrossed paternity and evidence for biparental inbreeding in five populations each. As expected from the predominantly outcrossed mating system, levels of diversity were high and inbreeding coefficients among maternal individuals were low (averaging --0.05, SE 0.12). Differences between inbreeding coefficients of progeny (average 0.21, SE 0.06) and mothers indicated selection against homozygous offspring. These results indicate that it is important to maintain large populations to prevent increases in inbreeding and to maintain pollinator communities to facilitate outcrossing. Key words: conservation; Eriogonum; inbreeding; mating systems; outcrossing rates; San Bernardino Mountains.

'Mustang' Altai wildrye [Leymus angustus (Trin.) Pilger], (Reg. no. CV-240, PI 634756) was developed by a research team at the USDA-ARS, Forage and Range Research Laboratory at Utah State University, [...]

In 'Patenting Agriculture' (Issues, Summer 2001), John H. Barton and Peter Berger describe how a few big agricultural biotechnology companies are increasingly consolidating control over the application of advanced molecular […]

You're out for a pastoral stroll on a lovely crisp autumn day, scuffing the leaves in front of you as you pass by a weathered, abandoned farmhouse. At one corner [...]