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Main conclusion Enhanced levels of indole-3-acetic and raised auxin to cytokinin ratios in the stem base contribute to the positive acropetal gradient in rooting capacity of leafy single-node stem cuttings of rose. Abstract Cuttings excised from different nodal positions in stock plants can differ in subsequent adventitious root formation. We investigated the involvement of the auxin–cytokinin balance in position-affected rooting of Rosa hybrida. Leafy single-node stem cuttings of two rose cultivars were excised from top versus bottom positions. Concentrations of IAA and cytokinins were monitored in the bud region and the stem base during 8 days after planting using chromatography–MS/MS technology. The effects of nodal position and external supply of indole-butyric acid on rooting were analyzed. Most cytokinins increased particularly in the bud region and peaked at day two before the bud break was recorded. IAA increased in both tissues between day one and day eight. Top versus bottom cuttings revealed higher levels of isopentenyladenosine (IPR) in both tissues as well as higher concentrations of IAA and a higher ratio of IAA to cytokinins particularly in the stem base. The dynamic of hormones and correlation analysis indicated that the higher IPR contributed to the enhanced IAA in the bud region which served as auxin source for the auxin homeostasis in the stem base, where IAA determined the auxin–cytokinin balance. Bottom versus top cuttings produced lower numbers and lengths of roots, whereas this deficit was counterbalanced by auxin application. Further considering other studies of rose, it is concluded that cytokinin-, sucrose- and zinc-dependent auxin biosynthesis in the outgrowing buds is an important factor that contributes to the enhanced IAA levels and auxin/cytokinin ratios in the stem base of apical cuttings, promoting root induction.

Dairy farming plays a major role in the Kenyan agricultural sector as it is dominated by smallholder farmers who contribute approximately 80 per cent of the total milk production. In Kinangop Sub County, there are many credit service providers however, not all smallholder dairy farmers have benefited from such services, instead smallholder dairy farmers have continued to experience challenges such as limited access to financial services. This study therefore analyzed the determinants of credit access among smallholder dairy farmers in Kinangop Sub-County using a binary logistic regression model. Following this, the marginal effects of the predictor variables on the likelihood of accessing credit were estimated. A total of 230 respondents were sampled from a population of 35,840 smallholder dairy farmers using both stratified and simple random sampling techniques and both structured and semi structured questionnaires were used to collect data. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. Descriptive analysis revealed that majority: 59.57% of smallholder dairy farmers were males, 69.57% were married and had a mean age of 39.4 years. The average household size was 4 members per household. Formal schooling was also attained by the respondents, majority having an average of about 8 years of schooling. On average farmers had 2 dairy cattle per household, produced 341litres of milk per month and had 11 years of farming. The binary logistic regression analysis and the marginal effect calculation revealed marital status, years of schooling, savings frequency, dairy farming, primary occupation, financial education, association membership and number of dairy cattle as the significant determinants of credit access. The study therefore concluded that there were significant determinants of credit access in the study area and recommended that formulating policies geared towards enhancing educational attainment of farmers would be vital in enhancing credit accessibility to farmers in the study area. There is also need for the Government and other stakeholders to encourage dairy farmers to join farmer based associations and eliminate stringent collateral barriers and bureaucracies that tend to discourage smallholder dairy farmers from accessing and participating in different credit schemes. KEY WORDS: Credit access, Determinants, smallholder dairy farmers, Kinangop Sub-County.

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