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The study was conducted to determine the role of training design and trainee characteristics in predicting the transfer of agronomic training among bean seed farmers in Uganda. Gender differences in levels of transfer were also studied. Data were from a sample survey of 300 respondents. Independent t-tests and hierarchical multivariate regression were used to answer the specific issues of the study. Results showed transfer was generally high, with women having a significantly higher training transfer than men. Using the Learning Transfer System Inventory (LTSI) model, we identified factors relating to trainee characteristics -- motivation to transfer, readiness to learn and performance self-efficacy -- that have shown a significant relationship with the transfer of training. We concluded by discussing potential implications for both theory and practice.

Simple Summary: Bean leaf beetles (BLBs) are significant pests in Uganda, damaging crops such as beans and cowpeas, leading to substantial yield losses. They exhibit preferential feeding behaviour, targeting specific crops over others. Understanding these preferences can form the basis for identifying a potential trap crop that can be used to manage the pest at a low cost in a sustainable manner. A field study was conducted to determine the feeding preference of BLBs on various host crops among those commonly cultivated in Uganda, across different locations and seasons. This study was conducted in Arua and Lira districts in the first and second rainy seasons of 2018. Seven BLB host crops, i.e., common bean, cowpea, greengram, soybean, groundnuts, okra and roselle (locally known as malakwang), were selected for the study. The results showed that cowpea exhibited the highest abundance of BLBs among all crops and it had a high amount of foliar damage as well. Thus, it was selected as the most preferred host crop and can be recommended as a trap crop for managing Ootheca spp. With respect to locations and seasons, the pest was more abundant in Arua than in Lira and more abundant in 2018A than 2018B across all locations. The bean leaf beetle (BLB) (Ootheca spp.) is a polyphagous pest causing significant yield losses in Uganda, particularly in the Northern and Eastern regions on various hosts plants. Despite its polyphagous behaviour, the BLB exhibits preferential feeding, offering an opportunity for targeted pest management. This study explored its feeding preferences across seven crops: common bean, cowpea, greengram, okra, roselle (malakwang), groundnuts, and soybean. This study was conducted in Arua and Lira districts using a randomized complete block design for two rainy seasons (2018A and 2018B). The results showed significant differences in BLB abundance and foliar damage among host crops, locations, days after planting and seasons. Cowpea was the most preferred crop while groundnuts was the least preferred. Therefore, cowpea can be recommended for use as a trap for managing Ootheca spp. in gardens where it is not the main crop. There was a higher pest abundance in Arua than in Lira. There was also a higher pest abundance in 2018A than in 2018B. These findings highlight the importance of understanding BLB's feeding preferences for implementing effective IPM strategies, emphasizing the potential role of trap cropping, especially with cowpea, to minimize BLB damage in resource-constrained agricultural settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legumes are important components of sustainable agricultural production, food, nutrition and income systems of developing countries. In spite of their importance, legume crop production is challenged by a number of biotic (diseases and pests) and abiotic stresses (heat, frost, drought and salinity), edaphic factors (associated with soil nutrient deficits) and policy issues (where less emphasis is put on legumes compared to priority starchy staples). Significant research and development work have been done in the past decade on important grain legumes through collaborative bilateral and multilateral projects as well as the CGIAR Research Program on Grain Legumes (CRP‐GL). Through these initiatives, genomic resources and genomic tools such as draft genome sequence, resequencing data, large‐scale genomewide markers, dense genetic maps, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and diagnostic markers have been developed for further use in multiple genetic and breeding applications. Also, these mega‐initiatives facilitated release of a number of new varieties and also dissemination of on‐the‐shelf varieties to the farmers. More efforts are needed to enhance genetic gains by reducing the time required in cultivar development through integration of genomics‐assisted breeding approaches and rapid generation advancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important legume crop worldwide. The International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and its national partners in Africa aim to overcome production constraints of common bean and address the food, nutrition needs and market demands through development of multitrait bean varieties. Breeding is guided by principles of market‐driven approaches to develop client‐demanded varieties. Germplasm accessions from especially two sister species, P. coccineus and P. acutifolius, have been utilized as sources of resistance to major production constraints and interspecific lines deployed. Elucidation of plant mechanisms governing pest and disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance and grain nutritional quality guides the selection methods used by the breeders. Molecular markers are used to select for resistance to key diseases and insect pests. Efforts have been made to utilize modern genomic tools to increase scale, efficiency, accuracy and speed of breeding. Through gender‐responsive participatory variety selection, market‐demanded varieties have been released in several African countries. These new bean varieties are a key component of sustainable food systems in the tropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germplasm of common beans from the Mesoamerican gene pool races: Durango, Jalisco, Mesoamerica and Guatemala have highest genetic variation for the crop's improvement. The objective was to assign 50 common bean germplasm in Uganda into its gene pool races based on analyses of population structure. Secondly, to estimate heritability and effects of genotype × environment (GXE) interaction on common bean agronomic and yield traits in space and time. Sample genomic DNA was amplified in 2011 with 22 Simple sequence repeat markers (SSRs) and alleles separated using capillary electrophoresis. Field evaluations were conducted in 2010 and 2011 at NaCRRI and 2015 at CIAT – Kawanda. Multivariate analyses of SSRs data identified four subgroups within the germplasm: K4.1–K4.4, with corresponding Wrights fixation indices (FST) as 0.1829 for K4.1, 0.1585 for K4.4, 0.1579 for K4.2 and least for K4.3 at 0.0678. Gene pool race admixtures in the population (14%) were notable and attributed to gene flow. Four superior parents currently used in improving resistance to major diseases grouped as; Jalisco for MLB49-89A; Mesoamerica for MCM5001 and G2333; Durango for MEXICO 54. Heritability values for yield traits estimated using phenotypic data from above fixed parents, was above 0.81. Season and location had significant effect (P < 0.05) on numbers of: flower buds per inflorescence, pod formation and weight of 100 seeds. The findings will improve understanding of co-evolutionary relationships between bean hosts and pathogens for better disease management and will broaden the germplasm base for improving other tropical production constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]