Browsing by Author "Robooni Tumuhimbise"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7

Analysis of association of sensory and laboratory assessments for quality and consumer acceptability of steamed East Africa highland bananas
(Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture, 2023-10-09) Kenneth Akankwasa; Pricilla Marimo; Alexandre Bouniol; Robooni Tumuhimbise; Moreen Asasira; Sarah Kisakye; Elizabeth Khakasa; Edgar Tinyiro; Yusuf Mukasa; Living Tukashaba; Mary G. Namuddu; Peter B. Ssenyonga; Dominique Dufour; Wilberforce Tushemereirwe; Kephas Nowakunda
BACKGROUND: The relevance of several characteristics for the acceptability of steamed East Africa bananas (matooke) was assessed using consumer-preferred characteristics, the overall liking scores, check-all-that-apply (CATA) and the Just About Right scale. The study was conducted in rural and urban locations in three banana growing regions of Uganda. Two landraces and two hybrids were processed into matooke. Twelve trained panellists evaluated color, taste and texture sensory characteristics. RESULTS: Consumers scored matooke from landraces as the most liked. The CATA test showed that the most important characteristics were: smooth mouthfeel, soft to the touch, not sticky, moldable, deep yellow color, attractive, good matooke taste and smell. Principal component analysis confirmed that most of the preferred sensory characteristics were associated with the local genotypes, whereas the less preferred characteristics were associated with hybrids. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive correlations between the consumer assessed characteristics, hardness by touch, softness to touch and yellowness, as well as quantitative laboratory characteristics (moldable, hardness by touch, softness and yellowness) of the steamed matooke. Color assessed by consumers was strongly correlated with the laboratory-assessed color indicators. CONCLUSION: The strong associations observed between laboratory-assessed and consumer-based characteristics (moldable by touch and yellowness) suggest the possibility of predicting consumer characteristics using quantitative laboratory sensory assessments. Matooke taste as assessed by consumer panel is strongly associated with smooth texture and deep yellow color, which were the characteristics associated with landraces in the laboratory sensory assessment.
Analysis of Genetic Diversity of Banana Weevils (Cosmopolites sordidus) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) UsingTranscriptome-Derived Simple Sequence Repeat Markers
(Journal of Economic Entomology, 2022-01-11) Ali Milton; Dennis Muhanguzi; Allan Male; Ali Kajubi; Stephen Buah; Jerome Kubiriba; Robooni Tumuhimbise
The banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is an economically important insect pest of bananas. It causes up to 100% yield losses and substantial lifespan reduction in bananas. Advances in genomics, proteomics, and sequencing technologies have provided powerful pathways to genotyping disastrous pests such as C. sordidus. However, such technologies are often not available to the majority of rural subtropical African banana growers and pest control managers. This study was there- fore motivated by the need to create cheap and easily accessible C. sordidus genotyping methods that could be deployed by banana pest control managers to the bene t of C. sordidus control programs in the tropics where such advanced technologies are not readily accessible. We used an in-house C. sordidus transcriptome from the an-ongoing study from which we mined an array of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Of these, six highly polymorphic transcriptome-derived SSR markers were used to successfully genotype within and among banana weevil population genetic diversity of 12 C. sordidus populations collected from four banana- growing agro-ecological zones (AEZs) in Uganda. The developed transcriptome-derived SSR markers can be used by researchers in population genetics for characterization of the C. sordidus and identification of new genes that are linked to traits of particular interest.The significant genetic diversity revealed in C. sordidus provides pertinent information for integrated pest management strategies.
Early Withering of Enlarged Ovules in Pollinated Fruits of Bananas (Musa spp.) Suggest Abortion after Fertilization
(Horticulturae, 2022-05-10) Allan Waniale; Settumba B. Mukasa; Arthur K. Tugume; Jerome Kubiriba; Wilberforce K. Tushemereirwe; Robooni Tumuhimbise
Sterility in edible bananas is as a result of a long history of anthropogenic-driven selection for sterile genotypes, since seed is not desirable in fruit pulp for human consumption. However, this poses a challenge to conventional genetic improvement by slowing breeding pipelines. In this study, we investigated whether pollen tubes reach all parts of the ovary, the position of fertilized ovule development in fruits, and potential seed set in selected banana genotypes. We selected four cultivars of East African Highland Cooking bananas (EAHBs), a Matooke hybrid ‘222K-1’, improved diploid ‘2905’, and wild bananas ‘Zebrina (G.F.)’ and ‘Calcutta 4’. There was evidence of pollen tubes in the distal, mid and proximal sections of the fruit, irrespective of hand position and genotype. Fertilization, as indicated by an increase in ovule size, happened along the entire length of the fruit but complete development was biased at the distal end in some genotypes. There were some differences in ovule fertilization rates between hands, with distal hands having more ovules and higher ovule fertilization rates. Ovule fertilization happens in bananas but the vast majority aborts, especially at the proximal end of the ovary. Ovule fertilization rates are generally much lower than available ovules.
East African highland cooking banana: towards an efficient selection of hybrids with user-preferred food quality traits
(Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture, 2023-10-24) Kephas Nowakunda; Elizabeth Khakasa; Hernan Ceballos; Akankwasa Kenneth; Robooni Tumuhimbise; Christophe Bugaud; Moreen Asasira; Brigitte Uwimana; Alexandre Bouniol; Ephraim Nuwamanya; Lora Forsythe; Pricilla Marimo; Dominique Dufour; Wilberforce Tushemereirwe
BACKGROUND: Determinants of culinary qualities of East African highland cooking bananas (EAHCB) are not well known. This constrains the inclusion of user-preferred traits in breeding. The present study aimed to quantify key indicators of user-preferred characteristics to enable selection of acceptable hybrids. RESULTS: Qualitative characteristics that drive preference were big bunches (15–34 kg), long straight/slightly curved fingers (12–23 cm), yellowness and soft texture. Descriptive sensory analysis of the intensity of colour and texture the 23 genotypes revealed that landraces Kibuzi, Mbwazirume, Nakitembe and Mpologoma had higher intensity of yellowness and lower intensity of hardness (softer) and a low score (≤ 1.0) of astringency taste. A preference test showed that they had higher acceptability scores. Biochemical, instrumental and sensory data revealed correlations between sensory firmness and instrumental hardness (r = 0.5), sensory firmness and amylopectin (r = −0.54), suggesting that qualitative descriptions can be predicted by instrumental and biochemical indicators. Significant (P < 0.05) variations in amylose and total starch content were observed in different varieties. Moderate correlations between instrumental hardness and firmness in mouth (r = 0.55), cohesiveness and firmness in the mouth (r = 0.57), and adhesiveness and firmness in the mouth (r = 0.64) were observed. Surprisingly, carotenoids content was not correlated with yellowness in cooked matooke. However, positive correlations were observed between chroma (b*) parameters of raw matooke and sensorial assessed color on cooked samples. CONCLUSION: Qualitative characteristis; the bunch, pulp colour and texture; that drive users-preference in the EAHCB were quantified, paving way for breeders to use them to select genotypes with these attributes early in the breeding process. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
East African highland cooking banana: towards an efficient selection of hybrids with user-preferred food quality traits
(Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture, 2023-11-13) Kephas Nowakunda; Elizabeth Khakasa; Hernan Ceballos; Akankwasa Kenneth; Robooni Tumuhimbise; Christophe Bugaud; Moreen Asasira; Brigitte Uwimana; Alexandre Bouniol; Ephraim Nuwamanya; Lora Forsythe; Pricilla Marimo; Dominique Dufour; Wilberforce Tushemereirwe
BACKGROUND: Determinants of culinary qualities of East African highland cooking bananas (EAHCB) are not well known. This constrains the inclusion of user-preferred traits in breeding. The present study aimed to quantify key indicators of user-preferred characteristics to enable selection of acceptable hybrids. RESULTS: Qualitative characteristics that drive preference were big bunches (15–34 kg), long straight/slightly curved fingers (12–23 cm), yellowness and soft texture. Descriptive sensory analysis of the intensity of colour and texture the 23 genotypes revealed that landraces Kibuzi, Mbwazirume, Nakitembe and Mpologoma had higher intensity of yellowness and lower intensity of hardness (softer) and a low score (≤ 1.0) of astringency taste. A preference test showed that they had higher acceptability scores. Biochemical, instrumental and sensory data revealed correlations between sensory firmness and instrumental hardness (r = 0.5), sensory firmness and amylopectin (r = −0.54), suggesting that qualitative descriptions can be predicted by instrumental and biochemical indicators. Significant (P < 0.05) variations in amylose and total starch content were observed in different varieties. Moderate correlations between instrumental hardness and firmness in mouth (r = 0.55), cohesiveness and firmness in the mouth (r = 0.57), and adhesiveness and firmness in the mouth (r = 0.64) were observed. Surprisingly, carotenoids content was not correlated with yellowness in cooked matooke. However, positive correlations were observed between chroma (b*) parameters of raw matooke and sensorial assessed color on cooked samples. CONCLUSION: Qualitative characteristis; the bunch, pulp colour and texture; that drive users-preference in the EAHCB were quantified, paving way for breeders to use them to select genotypes with these attributes early in the breeding process. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Ploidy level of the banana (Musa spp.) accessions at the germplasm collection centre for the East and Central Africa
(Afr. J. Biotechnol., 2016-08-21) Deborah Karamura; Robooni Tumuhimbise; Sedrach Muhangi; Moses Nyine; Micheal Pillay; Reuben Ssali Tendo; David Talengera; Priver Namanya; Jerome Kubiriba; Eldad Karamura
Banana Germplasm Collection serves as a source of useful genes for banana breeding. However, insufficient and/or inaccurate information on the ploidy level of the germplasm renders its utilization in breeding difficult. The objective of this study was to determine and validate the ploidy level of 120 banana accessions in the ex situ germplasm collection centre for the East and Central Africa, located in Mbarara, Uganda. Flow cytometric analysis of the nuclear DNA content was used to determine the ploidy level of the accessions. Results indicate that accessions: Bura, Diana, Kambani-Rungwe, Paji and Pagatau, and Rungwe that were previously classified as diploids are actually triploids, whereas Selangor previously known to be a diploid is a tetraploid. Accessions such as Galeo, Mwitupemba and Ntindi 1 that were previously classified as triploids were found diploids. GT, FHIA 25 and Muzungu Mwekundu that were considered as tetraploids, were found triploids. The information generated will guide correct placement of these accessions in the regional germplasm collection centre for the East and Central Africa and their utilization in banana breeding.
TARIBAN1, TARIBAN2, TARIBAN3, and TARIBAN4 ‘Matooke’ Cooking Banana Cultivars for the Great Lakes Region of Africa
(HortScience, 2022-11-23) Noel A. Madalla; Cornel Massawe; Mpoki Shimwela; Daud Mbongo; Grace Kindimba; Jerome Kubiriba; Ivan Arinaitwe; Kephas Nowakunda; Priver Namanya; Robooni Tumuhimbise; Asher W. Okurut; Adolf Saria; Munguatosha Ngomuo; Rony Swennen; Allan F. Brown; Michael Batte; Sebastien Carpentier; Inge Van den Bergh; Rhiannon Crichton; Pricilla Marimo; Eva Weltzien; Rodomiro Ortiz
Bananas and plantains (Musa sp.) are important staple and income-generating fruit crops for millions of people worldwide (Robinson and Sauco 2010; Ssebuliba et al. 2005). They are edible and vegetatively propagated parthenocarpic species (Ortiz 1997; Simmonds 1962). East African highland bananas (EAHBs) are a dis- tinct group of cultivars found only in the highland of African Great Lakes region, where the “greatest mass of bananas in the world” are found (Simmonds 1966). Bananas are important in the food economy of millions of people in this region, with annual per capita consumption estimated to be between 250 and 600 kg (Karamura et al. 2012). These triploid (2n 5 3x 5 33 chromosomes) cultivars are known locally as Matooke. When fully ripe, they can be eaten raw like dessert bananas; however, be- cause their pulp is insipid, they are mostly eaten after cooking. Shepherd (1957) referred to them as the ‘Lujugira-Mutika’ subgroup of the AAA genome group. They are also known by its acronym (EAHBs) because they thrive on the East African plateau at altitudes ranging from 900 to 1800 m above sea level (Davies 1995). A small group of these EAHBs are processed into a beverage, and called beer or ‘Mbidde’ bananas.