Browsing by Author "Okello, Denis"

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    Agricultural sustainability through Smart Farming Systems: A comparative Analysis Between the Republic of Korea and Republic of Uganda.
    (Kabale University, 2024) Happy, Kenneth; Gang, Roggers; Ban, Yeongjun; Yang, Sungyu; Rahmat, Endang; Okello, Denis; Komakech, Richard; Cyrus, Okello; Okello, Kalule David; Kang, Youngmin
    Smart farming involves the integration of information and communication technologies into machinery and sensors for use in agricultural systems. It is expected to potentially enhance the sustainability of agriculture and global food security. The need for smart farming arises from the increasing adverse environmental, ecological, social, and economic impacts on food systems. The potential impact of smart farming solutions on different countries is less known. Therefore, we comprehensively analyzed the role of smart farming solutions in sustaining agricultural production in the context of comparing a developed (Republic of Korea), and an emergent (Republic of Uganda) country. We scrutinized the agricultural assets, natural resources, approaches, technologies, policy interventions, achievements, challenges encountered, and reasons of smart farm pursuit for each country. Information presented in the paper indicated that both countries have similar objectives in the pursuit for smart farming: response to climate change and sustaining food security. However, the Republic of Korea employs a holistic approach of revolutionizing agriculture via smart farms. In contrast, distinct smart farming interventions implemented by government institutions, competing private sector, and non-governmental organizations are shaping the development of a smart farm concept in the Republic of Uganda. In conclusion, the application of smart farming solutions appears to be promising in enhancing the stability of the whole food system in both countries.
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    In vitro multiplication and phytochemical evaluation of Apios americana Medik for enhanced production of the staple food and tissues with versatile bioactivities.
    (Kabale University, 2024) Okello, Denis; Gang, Roggers; Rahmat, Endang; Yang, Sungyu; Ban, Yeongjun; Chung, Yuseong; Lee, Jun; Kang, Youngmin
    Apios americana Medik tissues, including tubers, flowers, leaves, and vines have both nutritional and therapeutic benefits. These tissues are extensively used in products like beverages and food supplements, driving an exponential increase in worldwide demand for the plant. However, conventional propagation of A. Americana through seeds and tubers faces several challenges, including limited seed sets under manual pollination, resulting in reduced production. To overcome these challenges, micropropagation emerges as a promising solution. The current research study has developed an effective in vitro propagation strategy for A. americana using direct regeneration from apical segment explants. Full-strength Quoirin and Lepoivre (QL) medium, supplemented with vitamins and 2.0 mg/L benzylaminopurine (BAP), yielded the highest number of shoots (7.50 ± 0.06) per apical segment explant. QL medium fortified with 1.0 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) demonstrated the highest root number (2.80 ± 0.30), length (85.80 ± 7.49 mm), and surface area (10.40 ± 0.82 cm2) in regenerated A. American shoots. The survival rate of the regenerants in the ex-vitro environment was 92.7% after acclimatization. In vitro-regenerated A. Americana plants and mother plants exhibited similar ploidy levels, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, phytochemical composition, and antioxidant capacity, indicating similarity in their physiological and biochemical properties. This protocol offers a rapid and scalable method for generating high-quality, A. Americana plant stocks with stable genome size/ploidy level, meeting the exponentially growing demand for plant tissues. Additionally, it holds potential applications in A. Americana breeding and germplasm preservation.
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    Medicinal Plants used for Cutaneous Wound Healing in Uganda; Ethnomedicinal Reports and Pharmacological Evidences.
    (Kabale University, 2024) Gang, Roggers; Okello, Denis; Kang, Youngmin
    Background: Wounds have become a major health challenge worldwide, presenting marked humanistic and economic burdens such as disabilities and death. Annually, approximately 14 million people suffer from wounds worldwide and 80 % of these occur in developing countries like Uganda. In Uganda, besides many cases of daily wound occurrences, approximately 10 % of surgical procedures become septic wounds and consequently lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Accordingly, several ethnomedicinal studies have identified plants used for wound treatment in different parts of Uganda and the wound-healing activities of some plants have been reported. However, at present, this information remain largely separated without an all- inclusive repository containing ethnomedicinal and pharmacological information about the plants used for wound healing in Uganda, thus retarding appropriate evaluation. Therefore, this review focused on extensively exploring the plants used for treating cutaneous wounds in Uganda, along with associated ethnomedicinal information and their globally reported pharmacological potential. Methods: Electronic data bases including Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct were searched using key terms for required information contained in English peer reviewed articles, books, and dissertations. Additionally, correlations between selected parameters were determined with coefficient of determination (r2). Results: The literature survey revealed that 165 species belonging to 62 families are traditionally used to treat wounds in Uganda. Most of the species belonged to families of Asteraceae (14 %), Fabaceae (10 %), and Euphorbiaceae (7 %). The commonest plant parts used for wound treatment include leaf (48 %), root (22 %), stembark (11 %), and stem (7 %), which are prepared majorly by poultice (34 %), decoction (13 %), as well as powdering (25 %). Fifty-four (33 %) of the plant species have been investigated for their wound-healing activities whereas, one hundred eleven (67 %) have not been scientifically investigated for their wound-healing effects. Pearson correlation coefficient between the number of wound-healing plant families per part used and the percent of each plant part used was 0.97, and between the number of wound-healing plant families per method of preparation and percent of each method of preparation was 0.95, showing in both strong positively marked relationships.