Browsing by Author "Isabirye, Isaac"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2

Antibacterial activity and host range of phage filtrates from soil and banana plant pseudostems targeting Xanthomonas vasicola pv. musacearum
(African Journal of Microbiology Research, 2026-06) Nakayinga, Ritah; Ofoyrwoth, Roy; Isabirye, Isaac
The phytopathogen Xanthomonas vasicola pv. musacearum causes Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW), affecting banana yield and productivity. This threatens food security and livelihoods of populations reliant on bananas. Various agricultural practices aim to manage BXW, yet the disease persists, reducing banana yield and productivity. Bacteriophages are natural enemies of bacteria and offer a potential biocontrol solution. This study evaluated the antibacterial activity and host range of phage filtrates from BXW infected soil and banana pseudostems against X. vasicola pv. musacearum. Phage filtrates were obtained from soil and banana pseudostem samples collected from three gardens. Their activity and host range were assessed using the spot assay. Nine phage filtrates, each from soil and pseudostem samples, produced clear plaques on X. vasicola pv. musacearum lawns grown on YPGA. Soil phage filtrates exhibited a host range from 54 to 100% against X. vasicola pv. musacearum strains, while pseudostem filtrates ranged from 59 to 97%. No plaques were observed on non-Xanthomonas strains. These findings demonstrate that phage filtrates from soil and pseudostem samples exhibit antibacterial activity against X. vasicola pv. musacearum and infect a broad range of X. vasicola pv. musacearum strains, highlighting their potential for BXW biocontrol.
Ethnomedicinal uses and nutritional composition of yams (Dioscorea hispida Dennst.) In Kitholhu, Kasese District, Uganda
(Springer, 2024-05) Makeo, Onani; Okot, Amito Patricia; Isabirye, Isaac; Omara, Timothy; Walugembe, Joel
Yams (Dioscorea species) are traditionally valued as famine foods and medicinal lianas in countries such as Uganda, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Thailand and Singapore. However, little information exists on the traditional medicinal uses and nutritional composition of yams in Uganda, despite them being cultivated and considered to have medicinal benefits in Eastern and Western Uganda. This study was sought to document the ethnobotanical knowledge and assess the nutritional composition of Dioscorea hispida Dennst. (D. hispida) in Kasese District of Western Uganda. An ethnobotanical survey was carried out from November 2022 to May 2023 in Kitholhu subcounty, a flood-prone area in Kasese District to assess the indigenous knowledge on the medicinal uses of D. hispida. Using semi-structured questionnaires, a total of 47 respondents selected using snow ball technique were interviewed. The proximate composition (moisture, ash, crude fat, protein, crude fiber and total carbohydrate contents) of sampled D. hispida tubers were analyzed. The ethnobotanical data obtained was analyzed using descriptive statistics while nutritional data was subjected to a one-way analysis of variance at P < 0.05. Up to 83% of the respondents cultivate D. hispida, with 94% of these indicating that the tuber is used in traditional management of typhoid, diabetes mellitus, malaria, yellow fever, intestinal inflammation, cancer, peptic ulcers and hypertension, among other ailments. Proximate analysis indicated that D. hispida samples from Kitholhu had 72.29 ± 0.38% moisture, 6.08 ± 0.15% crude fiber, 1.24 ± 0.05% crude fat, 3.05 ± 0.03% ash, 5.65 ± 0.29% proteins and 11.67 ± 0.52% carbohydrates. Our results suggest that there is rich ethnobotanical knowledge on the use of D. hispida for the treatment of ailments among the local communities of Kitholhu. Thus, D. hispida is a famine and medicinal plant that needs to be considered for conservation to enhance food security in Kitholhu and Uganda as a whole. Further studies are required to assess D. hispida for its claimed bioactivities against the reported diseases and conditions.