Browsing by Author "Mildred Julian Nakanwagi"

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    Amplicon Sequencing Identified a Putative Pathogen, Macrophomina phaseolina, Causing Wilt in African Eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum) Grown in Tanzania and Uganda
    (Frontiers in Agronomy, 2024-01-03) Xiangming Xu; Ruth Minja; Elizabeth Balyejusa Kizito; Fekadu Dinssa; Greg Deakin; Pamela Nahamya Kabod; Asheri Kalala; Eliciana Kweka; Omary Mbwambo; Deusdedith Mbanzibwa; Hamza Msangi; Mildred Julian Nakanwagi; Tom Passey; Stuart Sentance; Godfrey Sseremba; Eleftheria Stavridou; Gerard J. Bishop
    African eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum L.) is one of the most common traditional vegetables in Tanzania and Uganda, but its productivity is severely affected by wilt diseases caused by a number of pathogens. Plant stem and root samples were collected in several fields from many neighboring diseased and healthy plants of the Gilo group in Tanzania and from the Shum group in Uganda to identify putative pathogens causing wilt on African eggplants. Through amplicon sequencing of sampled diseased and healthy tissues, we identified putative causal pathogens for the wilt symptoms. Wilting of S. aethiopicum in Uganda is most likely caused by the bacterial pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum whereas, in Tanzania, wilt is most likely caused by the fungal pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina, infecting roots. Infection of stems by Fusarium solani may also contribute to the wilt symptoms in Tanzania. Further artificial inoculation under controlled conditions confirmed that M. phaseolina can cause typical wilting symptoms on S. aethiopcium genotypes. The discovery of different putative causal agents of wilt in the crop demonstrates the need for site specific etiological analysis of wilt before developing and implementing effective control methods. Further research is needed to confirm the results and develop appropriate management measures against specific wilt pathogens.
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    The Potential of Solanum Aethopicam Supplementation to Reduce the Anthropometric and Biochemical Risk Factors for Non-communicable Diseases Among Older Persons in Mukono Municipality, Uganda: A Before-and-After Study
    (BMC, 2023-10-06) Gerald Tumusiime; Elizabeth Kizito Balyejusa; Anthony Kkonde; Mildred Julian Nakanwagi; Stephen Tukwasibwe; Catherine Ndagire; Martin Mutambuka
    Background: Non-communicable diseases contribute to over 70% of all deaths globally with the majority of the deaths in low and middle-income countries. Although increased vegetable consumption is a cost-effective intervention to mitigate the burden of non-communicable diseases, little is known about African indigenous vegetables to guide their consumption, especially among older persons. This study, aimed at exploring the potential of dietary Solanum aethopicam Shum supplementation in the reduction of the risk of non-communicable diseases among older persons aged 50 years and above in Mukono municipality,Uganda. Methods: This was a before-and-after study of 100 community-dwelling older persons aged 50 years and above residing in cosmopolitan Mukono Municipality in central Uganda. The meal of each participant was supplemented with 375g of Solanum aethiopicum Shum per day for four weeks. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were collected at baseline and at the end of the four weeks. All measurements were taken in the morning after an overnight fast. Data was entered into an Excel sheet and transferred to STATA software for analysis. All data was summarized in tables and texts. Results: Of the 100 older persons aged 50 to 88 years (mean 63 ± 10), 60% were females and on average, males were older than females. Based on the body mass index, five percent were underweight, 40% were normal, and 55% were overweight or obese at baseline. After supplementation with Solanum aethiopicum Shum, three percent were normal, 44% were normal and 53% were overweight or obese. Also, there was a mean reduction in the participants’ weight, body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference, abdominal girth, hip circumference, and C-reactive protein. Conclusion: The results suggest that supplementation of the older persons’ diet with Solanum aethiopicum Shum improves their nutrition status, and leads to a reduction in the mean weight, body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference, abdominal girth, hip circumference, and C-reactive protein levels. Dietary supplementation with Solanum aethiopicum Shum should be promoted as a potential strategy to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases among older persons.