Browsing Research Articles [LISBE] by Author "Belmain, Steven"
Now showing items 1-20 of 20
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Botanical extracts control the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum boninense in smallholder production of common bean
Kushaha, Tamia; Mkindi, Angela; Mbega, Ernest; Stevenson, Philip; Belmain, Steven (Springer link, 2024-04-11)Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum spp. remains an intractable problem in the most common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) production areas worldwide and can cause total yield loss. Many smallholder farmers are familiar with ... -
Characterization of morpho-agronomic traits and powdery mildew resistance in mung bean (Vigna radiata)
Kitomar, Doring; Venkataramana1, Pavithravani; Mkindi1, Angela; Belmain, Steven; Stevenson, Philip (Research Suare, 2024-04-18)Background: Exploring genetic variation and screening for disease resistance is an important step in crop breeding initiatives but is lacking for many bean varieties including mung bean. The present study evaluated the ... -
The diversity of aphid parasitoids in East Africa and implications for biological control
Woolley, Victoria; Tembo, Yolice; Ndakidemi, Baltazar; Obanyi, Janet; Arnold, Sarah; Belmain, Steven; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Ogendo, Joshua; Stevenson, Philip (Wiley Online Library, 2021-11-18)BACKGROUND Hymenopteran parasitoids provide key natural pest regulation services and are reared commercially as biological control agents. Therefore, understanding parasitoid community composition in natural populations ... -
Elements of agroecological pest and disease management
Belmain, Steven; Tembo, Yolice; Mkindi, Angela; Arnold, Sarah; Stevenson, Philip (University of California Press, 2022-06-01)The development of large-scale monocropped agrisystems has facilitated increased problems with pests and diseases, perpetuating the reliance of farmers on synthetic pesticides. The economic success of synthetic inputs ... -
Enhancing knowledge among smallholders on pollinators and supporting field margins for sustainable food security
Elisante, Filemon; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Arnold, Sarah; Belmain, Steven; Gurr, Geoff; Darbyshire, Iain; Xie, Gang; Tumbo, Julie; Stevenson, Philip (Elsevier Ltd., 2019-08)Agro-ecological intensification (AEI) harnesses natural processes, such as pollination, that support sustainable crop production and can buffer against future food security risks. However, the transition from conventional ... -
Extracts from Field Margin Weeds Provide Economically Viable and Environmentally Benign Pest Control Compared to Synthetic Pesticides
Mkenda, Prisila; Mwanauta, Regina; Stevenson, Philip; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Mtei, Kelvin; Belmain, Steven (Plos One, 2015-11-23)Plants with pesticidal properties have been investigated for decades as alternatives to synthetics, but most progress has been shown in the laboratory. Consequently, research on pesticidal plants is failing to address ... -
Extracts of Common Pesticidal Plants Increase Plant Growth and Yield in Common Bean Plants.
Mkindi, Angela; Tembo, Yolice; Mbega, Ernest; Smith, Amy; Farrell, Iain; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Stevenson, Philip; Belmain, Steven (MDPI, 2020-01-23)Common bean () is an important food and cash crop in many countries. Bean crop yields in sub-Saharan Africa are on average 50% lower than the global average, which is largely due to severe problems with pests and diseases ... -
Field Margin Plants Support Natural Enemies in Sub-Saharan Africa Smallholder Common Bean Farming Systems
Ndakidemi, Baltazar; Mbega, Ernest; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Belmain, Steven; Arnold, Sarah; Woolley, Victoria; Stevenson, Philip (MDPI, 2022-03-28)Flower-rich field margins provide habitats and food resources for natural enemies of pests (NEs), but their potential, particularly in the tropics and on smallholder farms, is poorly understood. We surveyed field margins ... -
Field Margin Vegetation in Tropical African Bean Systems Harbours Diverse Natural Enemies for Biological Pest Control in Adjacent Crops
Mkenda, Prisila; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Stevenson, Philip; Arnold, Sarah; Belmain, Steven; Chidege, Maneno; Gurr, Geo (MDPI, 2019-11-14)Non-crop vegetation around farmland can be valuable habitats for enhancing ecosystem services but little is known of the importance of field margins in supporting natural enemies of insect pests in tropical agriculture. ... -
Identifying the right plants for diverse biocontrol agents in tropical smallholder bean farming systems
Mkenda, Prisila; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Stevenson, Philip; Arnold, Sarah; Belmain, Steven; Darbyshire, Iain; Gurr, Geoff (African Journals OnLine (AJOL), 2022-10-20)Biocontrol agents such as predators, parasitoids and pathogens potentially regulate crop pests populations. The agents feed directly on the pests, oviposit in the pest body or cause disease in the pest. While biocontrol ... -
Insect pollination is important in a smallholder bean farming system.
Elisante, Filemon; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Arnold, Sarah; Belmain, Steven; Gurr, Geoff; Darbyshire, Iain; Xie, Gang; Stevenson, Philip (PeerJ, 2020-10-20)Many crops are dependent on pollination by insects. Habitat management in agricultural landscapes can support pollinator services and even augment crop production. Common bean ( L.) is an important legume for the livelihoods ... -
Insecticidal activity of Tithonia diversifolia and Vernonia amygdalina
Stevensona, Philip; Greena, Paul; Belmain, Steven; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Farrell, Iain (Elsevier Ltd, 2017-08-26)The diversity of synthetic pesticides has been reduced through regulation especially in the European Union, leading to a resurgence of interest in natural plant products for pest control. Here we investigated two ... -
Invasive weeds with pesticidal properties as potential new crops
Belmain, Steven; Mkindi, Angela; Mpumi, Nelson; Tembob, Yolice; Stevenson, Phillip; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Mtei, Kelvin; Machunda, Revocatus (Elsevier, 2017)Plants with pesticidal properties have been investigated for decades as alternatives to synthetics, but only a handful have been commercialised and developed as non-food cash crops. One of the reasons why pesticidal plants ... -
Multiple ecosystem services from field margin vegetation for ecological sustainability in agriculture: scientific evidence and knowledge gaps.
Mkenda, Prisila; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Mbega, Ernest; Stevenson, Philip; Arnold, Sarah; Gurr, Geoff; Belmain, Steven (PubMed, 2019-11-28)Background Field margin and non-crop vegetation in agricultural systems are potential ecosystem services providers because they offer semi-natural habitats for both below and above ground animal groups such as soil organisms, ... -
Natural Pest Regulation and Its Compatibility with Other Crop Protection Practices in Smallholder Bean Farming Systems
Ndakidemi, Baltazar; Mbega, Ernest; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Stevenson, Philip; Belmain, Steven; Arnold, Sarah; Woolley, Victoria (MDPI, 2021-08-20)Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) production and storage are limited by numerous con- straints. Insect pests are often the most destructive. However, resource-constrained smallholders in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) often do ... -
Pesticidal Plant Extracts Improve Yield and Reduce Insect Pests on Legume Crops Without Harming Beneficial Arthropods
Tembo, Yolice; Mkindi, Angela; Mkenda, Prisila; Mpumi, Nelson; Mwanauta, Regina; Stevenson, Philip; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Belmain, Steven (Original Research, 2018-09-28)In the fight against arthropod crop pests using plant secondary metabolites, most research has focussed on the identification of bioactive molecules. Several hundred candidate plant species and compounds are now known ... -
Phytochemical Analysis of across East Africa Reveals Three Chemotypes that Influence Its Use as a Pesticidal Plant.
Mkindi, Angela; Tembo, Yolice; Mbega, Ernest; Medvecky, Beth; Kendal-Smith, Amy; Farrell, Iain; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Belmain, Steven; Stevenson, Philip (MDPI, 2019-12-12)is a plant species chemically characterized by the presence of entomotoxic rotenoids and used widely across Africa as a botanical pesticide. Phytochemical analysis was conducted to establish the presence and abundance of ... -
Plant-Rich Field Margins Influence Natural Predators of Aphids More Than Intercropping in Common Bean
Ndakidemi, Baltazar; Mbega, Ernest; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Belmain, Steven; Arnold, Sarah; Woolley, Victoria; Stevenson, Philip (MDPI, 2022-06-23)Field margins support important ecosystem services including natural pest regulation. We investigated the influence of field margins on the spatial and temporal distribution of natural enemies (NEs) of bean pests in ... -
Qualitative Cost-Benefit Analysis of Using Pesticidal Plants in Smallholder Crop Protection
Mkindi, Angela; Coe, Richard; Stevenson, Philip; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Belmain, Steven (MDPI, 2021-10-15)Assessing the potential drivers of farmers using pesticidal plants for crop protection is essential for wider adoption. However, few studies have focused on collaborative assessments of the underlying trade-offs when ... -
Understanding farmer knowledge and site factors in relation to soil-borne pests and pathogens to support agroecological intensification of smallholder bean production systems
Ngoya, Zuwena; Mkindi, Angela; Vanek, Steven; Ndakidemi, Patrick; Stevenson, Philip; Belmain, Steven (Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 2023-03-29)Introduction: Pests and diseases limit common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) production in intensifying smallholder farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa. Soil-borne pests and diseases (SPD) are particularly challenging for ...