A prioritisation study was conducted to address the lack of adequate information about potential pests likely to be introduced in Zambia and become invasive. The study was conducted by subject matter experts from relevant institutions in and outside Zambia. Although this study focused on major pest categories, this paper only addresses bacteria and Protista. A list of 306 bacterial and 10 Protista species adjudged to affect plants was generated using CABI’s Horizon Scanning Tool. The 316 (total) pest species were refined to focus on pests that affect value chains important to Zambia’s economy. This resulted in a final list of 133 bacteria and eight Protista. Four additional bacteria species considered of phytosanitary interest were added and all 137 bacteria and eight Protista species were subjected to a rapid risk assessment using agreed guidelines. Vectors reported to transmit any of the pathogenic organisms were also subjected to a risk assessment. A proportion of 53% (n = 77 of 145) comprising 73 bacteria and four Protista species were reported as present in Africa. Of these, 42 (57%, n = 73) bacterial species and two (n=4) Protista species were reported in neighbouring countries. Considering a cut-off of 54, the highest scoring pests were 40 bacteria (highest score of 140) and three Protista (highest score of 125). Three actions were suggested for high-scoring pests, a detection surveillance, a pest-initiated pest risk analysis (PRA) or a detection surveillance followed by pest-initiated PRA. A “no action” was suggested where the risk was very low although, for some pathogenic organisms, a “no action” was followed by periodic monitoring. This information will contribute towards proactive prevention and management of biological invasions.

Global food security is at risk due to the predicted climate change, making it imperative for agronomists to provide adaptive technologies that will sustain and improve food production. Rainfed agriculture, prone to drought, covers an estimated 80% of global cropland. One of the adaptive technologies is the use of antitranspirants – products that are applied on plants to reduce transpirational water loss and increase crop performance under drought conditions. The benefits of improving antitranspirant adoption in drought mitigation are expected to be high, especially in many drought-prone low-income countries where crop production is almost wholly dependent on rainfall. The objective of this article was to review the commercial uses of antitranspirants in food and non-food crop production. The review revealed that in horticulture, antitranspirants have several commercial uses, in addition to drought mitigation, such as transplanting shock amelioration, protection of fruit against sunburn, enhancement of nutritional quality, synchronising fruit ripening, protection of fruit and nut trees against diseases. Use of antitranspirants in arable farming has been neglected for three main reasons: first, arable crops have lower market value, for example, in Melbourne (Australia) in October 2022, a tonne of grapes was worth US$ 2694.82 compared to US$ 277/tonne of wheat. Second, molecular genetics applied to crop breeding has risen as an alternative approach to drought mitigation, shifting attention from antitranspirants. Finally, the erroneous research conclusion in the 1970s that antitranspirants could not increase yield because they reduced photosynthesis discouraged commercialisation of antitranspirants in arable farming. An antitranspirant breakthrough to either lower the cost or create a multi-purpose product is needed for the production of arable crops, especially major cereals, as has been the case for non-drought amelioration uses in horticulture.

In Mediterranean-type climates, terminal drought induces grain yield losses in wheat. Antitranspirants can reduce the impacts of terminal drought and improve yield, but the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Among other impacts, drought elevates endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) concentration. Here, the effectiveness of a film antitranspirant (di-1-p-menthene) was studied in relation to plant water status and spike ABA. The objective was to determine whether drought amelioration with di-1-p-menthene was solely mediated through a reduction in ABA by comparing its effects to that of fluridone (an ABA inhibitor). The treatments were assessed in a randomized complete block design in two field experiments in spring and summer of 2020, with six and eight replicate blocks, respectively, at Harper Adams University, UK, to compare their effects on spike ABA, gas exchange and agronomic traits under progressive drought conditions. Di-1-p-menthene was applied at 1 l/ha; and fluridone at 10, 20 and 50 μM concentrations, at flag leaf emergence, growth stage 37 (GS37). Drought increased spike ABA and downregulated photosynthesis. Di-1-p-menthene and fluridone at some concentrations, reduced spike ABA and photosynthesis. Di-1-p-menthene suppressed transpiration and spike ABA, each by 21% but increased grain yield by 27%. In contrast, although fluridone (at 10 and 50 μM) also reduced spike ABA (by 16%), overall, it did not alter transpiration or grain yield. The results suggest that yield improvement with di-1-p-methene is mediated through mechanisms that involve conservation of plant water linked to reduced transpiration, with inhibition of spike ABA playing a secondary role.

Background: Agrobiodiversity is critical to food security, environmental sustainability and climate resilience in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, mainstream agriculture has marginalised neglected and underutilised indigenous vegetables (NUIVs), despite their adaptability, cultural significance and nutritional value.Aim: This review aimed to identify and synthesise knowledge gaps impeding the sustainable utilisation and mainstreaming of NUIVs in SSA.Setting: The study focuses on the SSA region, where food insecurity, malnutrition and climate-induced stresses challenge agricultural productivity and dietary diversity.Methods: A structured literature review was conducted using peer-reviewed sources accessed via ScienceDirect and Google Scholar. Article selection prioritised recent and relevant studies focused on vegetable species, particularly those with documented ecological, nutritional and socio-economic benefits related to NUIVs.Results: Major gaps were identified in agronomy, nutritional profiling (including bioavailability), post-harvest handling, markets and policy. Evidence from East Africa shows progress in seed systems and breeding for Cleome gynandra and Solanum scabrum, while Southern and Central Africa remain constrained by informal seed sectors and weak institutional support. Research outputs have risen since 2019, yet transdisciplinary integration is still limited.Conclusion: Region-specific strategies linking agronomy, breeding, value chains and policy are needed. This review offers a research and policy roadmap to mainstream NUIVs into climate-smart, nutrition-sensitive food systems, enhancing food security and resilience in SSA.Contribution: This review guides future research, policy and development interventions. It highlights NUIVs as viable candidates for integration into climate-smart, nutrition-sensitive food systems in SSA and calls for their elevation within agricultural agendas to advance food security goals.

A prioritisation study was conducted to address the lack of adequate information about potential pests likely to be introduced in Zambia and become invasive. The study was conducted by subject matter experts from relevant institutions in and outside Zambia. Although this study focussed on major pest categories, this paper only addresses bacteria and Protista. A list of 306 bacterial and 10 Protista species adjudged to affect plants was generated using CABI’s Horizon Scanning Tool. The 316 (total) pest species were refined to focus on pests that affect value chains important to Zambia’s economy. This resulted in a final list of 133 bacteria and 8 Protista. Four additional bacteria species considered of phytosanitary interest were added and all 137 bacteria and 8 Protista species were subjected to a rapid risk assessment using agreed guidelines. Vectors reported to transmit any of the pathogenic organisms were also subjected to a risk assessment. A proportion of 53% (n=77 of 145) comprising 73 bacteria and 4 Protista species were reported as present in Africa. Of these, 42 (57%, n=73) bacterial species and 2 (n=4) Protista species were reported in neighbouring countries. Considering a cut-off of 54, the highest scoring pests were 40 bacteria (highest score of 140) and three Protista (highest score of 125). Three actions were suggested for high-scoring pests, a detection surveillance, a pest-initiated pest risk analysis (PRA) or a detection surveillance followed by pest-initiated PRA. A “no action” was suggested where the risk was very low although for some pathogenic organisms, a “no action” was followed by periodic monitoring. This information will contribute towards proactive prevention and management of biological invasions.