Browsing by Author "Phiri, Ethel E."

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    Moringa oleifera in South Africa : a review on its production, growing conditions and consumption as a food source
    (ASSAf, 2021-03-29) Mashamaite, Chuene V.; Pieterse, Petrus J.; Mothapo, Palesa N.; Phiri, Ethel E.
    Moringa oleifera (moringa) trees excel mainly in tropical and sub-tropical regions and are known to thrive in a wide range of soil types. The recent rise in moringa production in various agro-ecological zones of South Africa could be attributed to its multiple benefits, including nutritional and medicinal properties. Since its introduction as a cultivated crop, there has been a growing interest from farmers, researchers and government on various aspects of the tree such as its morphology, chemistry, growing conditions, production, processing and utilisation. We reviewed the work done on moringa within the South African context in terms of production, growing conditions and cultivation practices. The involvement of government departments on moringa-oriented activities and its consumption as food were also reviewed. In addition, gaps were outlined on its utilisation that need to be addressed, and recommendations provided on what could be done to ensure successful production of moringa in South Africa.
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    Mutations in glucan, water dikinase affect starch degradation and gametophore development in the moss physcomitrella patens
    (Nature Research, 2019) Mdodana, Ntombizanele T.; Jewell, Jonathan F.; Phiri, Ethel E.; Smith, Marthinus L.; Oberlander, Kenneth; Mahmoodi, Saire; Kossmann, Jens; Lloyd, James R.
    The role of starch degradation in non-vascular plants is poorly understood. To expand our knowledge of this area, we have studied this process in Physcomitrella patens. This has been achieved through examination of the step known to initiate starch degradation in angiosperms, glucan phosphorylation, catalysed by glucan, water dikinase (GWD) enzymes. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that GWD isoforms can be divided into two clades, one of which contains GWD1/GWD2 and the other GWD3 isoforms. These clades split at a very early stage within plant evolution, as distinct sequences that cluster within each were identified in all major plant lineages. Of the five genes we identified within the Physcomitrella genome that encode GWD-like enzymes, two group within the GWD1/GWD2 clade and the others within the GWD3 clade. Proteins encoded by both loci in the GWD1/GWD2 clade, named PpGWDa and PpGWDb, are localised in plastids. Mutations of either PpGWDa or PpGWDb reduce starch phosphate abundance, however, a mutation at the PpGWDa locus had a much greater influence than one at PpGWDb. Only mutations affecting PpGWDa inhibited starch degradation. Mutants lacking this enzyme also failed to develop gametophores, a phenotype that could be chemically complemented using glucose supplementation within the growth medium.
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    Opportunities and challenges for seasonal climate forecasts to more effectively assist smallholder farming decisions
    (ASSAf, 2020-01-29) Chisadza, Bright; Mushunje, Abbyssinia; Nhundu, Kenneth; Phiri, Ethel E.
    The ability of smallholder farmers to utilise seasonal climate forecast (SCF) information in farm planning to reflect anticipated climate is a precursor to improved farm management. However, the integration of SCF by smallholder farmers into farm planning has been poor, partly because of the lack of forecast skill, lack of communication and inability to see the relevance of the SCFs for specific farming decisions. The relevance of seasonal climate forecasting in farming decisions can be enhanced through improved understanding of SCF from the smallholder farmers’ perspective. Studies that have been done of how smallholder farmers understand SCF and how the available SCFs influence smallholder farmers’ decisions are limited. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to review how smallholder farmers make decisions on farming practices based on SCFs and the challenges and opportunities thereof. The review shows that the majority of smallholder farmers in Africa make use of either scientific or indigenous knowledge climate forecasts and, in some cases, a combination of both. There are mixed results in the area of evaluating benefits of SCFs in decision-making and farm production. In some cases, the outcomes are positive, whereas in others they are difficult to quantify. Thus, the integration of SCFs into smallholder farmers’ decision-making is still a challenge. We recommend that significant work must be done to improve climate forecasts in terms of format, and spatial and temporal context in order for them to be more useful in influencing decision-making by smallholder farmers.
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    We object to bad science : poor research practices should be discouraged
    (ASSAf, 2020-07-10) Mothapo, Palesa N.; Phiri, Ethel E.; Maduna, Tando L.; Malgas, Rhoda; Richards, Rose; Sylvester, Taime T.; Nsikani, Mlungele; Boonzaaier-Davids, Melissa K.; Moshobane, Moleseng C.
    On 8 June 2020, we, a diverse group of African emerging researchers, published a response to the commentary titled ‘Why are black South African students less likely to consider studying biological sciences?’ (1)published in the South Africa Journal of Science (SAJS). There aremounting arguments, in both print and social media, regarding themerits of the Nattrass (2020) commentary, particularly around itsstrong racial undertones as well as poor and unethical researchpractices. Nattrass’ commentary has been intensely divisive, managingto engender stereotypes, anger, and disappointment. Conflictingarguments have emerged, which involve responses by otheracademics, politicians, and the public, but much of the furore has beenstrongly biased towards and along racial lines, with very little attentiondirected at the flawed nature of the research.