Hilda K. Miranyi
Msc. Horticulture
Supervisors
Dr. Margaret J. Hutchinson
Dept of Plant Science and Crop Protection, UON.
Dr. Cecilia M. Onyango
Dept of Plant Science and Crop Protection, UON.
Dr. Esther Kimani
Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS)
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Horticulture is among the leading foreign exchange earner
at about ksh. 91.2 billion with floriculture contributing
ksh.44.5 billion (HCDA,2011).
The value of horticultural production stands at Ksh. 205
billion and offers employment directly or indirectly to over
6 million Kenyans.
The EU is the major market for Kenyan cut flowers.
Others are, Russia, U.S.A, Japan, South Africa, Australia
and the United Arab Emirates.
The expansion of trade has brought about the threat of
introduction and spread of quarantine pests.
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Thus guidelines and agreements have been set by the
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the
World Trade Organizations on the application of SPS
Measures.
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National Plant protection Organizations (NPPOs) have the
right to regulate imports to achieve an appropriate level of
protection e.g. AQIS import conditions which includes
devitalisation treatment.

Devitalisation is the treatment of cut flowers with a
systemic herbicide especially glyphosate to render the buds
non-viable (cuttings unable to root).
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Compliance to the National Plant protection requirements
e.g. AQIS & EU Directives is a challenge for many
developing countries.

For example out of 224,889 tons of horticultural produce
exported 2010/2011, inspectors rejected 129 tons and
gave advice/warning for 138 tons,
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123 interception notifications were received from the
importing countries due to presence of quarantine pests
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Kenya is keen to expand its exports to the Australia
market but their stringent quarantine requirements has
been an obstacle.

Despite providing the protocol for the treatment, reports
of non-compliance still come in from Australia – 5
exporting companies banned from exporting to Australia
in last 2 years.
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The importance of safeguarding Kenya’s export market
cannot be gainsaid.
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But with some exporters failing the audit test for the preshipment devitalisation treatment, Kenya risks losing this
potentially lucrative market and a possible alternative to
the traditional EU market.
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Out of the 40 accredited devitalisation facilities, 5 have
failed the audit tests in the last two years, leading to a ban
of their export of cut flowers to Australia - great loss of
revenue.
Broad Objective
To improve on levels of compliance of Kenya’s cut
flower exports to new markets hence increase in
diversification of markets and revenue.
1.
To establish the root cause of Kenyan flower exports
frequent failure to meet AQIS Requirement.
2.
To establish the level of implementation of the AQIS
devitalisation protocol amongst approved firms.
3.
To determine the effects of Round up and Glypro
formulations of Glyphosate on the longevity of cut flowers
(Rosa hybrida and Hypericam spp.)
To compare the effectiveness of Round up and Glypro
formulations of Glyphosate devitalisation treatment at
different dipping depths on rose cut flowers.
4.

Exporters are not fully aware of the AQIS Quarantine
requirements.
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The AQIS accredited facilities are not implementing the
specifications of the AQIS devitalisation protocol with
precision.

Devitalisation treatment does not affect the vase life of cut
flowers.

Varying formulation of glyphosate at different dipping
depths does not affect the devitalisation treatment effect.
1. The survey;
 A survey will be carried out among the AQIS accredited
companies located in the Rift Valley, Central and the
Nairobi Provinces. Out of the 40 accredited exporter
companies, 20 will be picked at random as a representative
sample for the study.
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A questionnaire with both open-ended and closed questions
shall be used. The survey will determine the level of
implementation of the devitalisation protocol and awareness
of the import conditions of the target market.
2. Laboratory experiment to assess vase life after
devitalisation treatment;
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This will be carried out at the Oserian pack house at
Naivasha in the Rift Valley.
fresh cut roses (variety cream prophyta) and Hypericum
inodorum Flair variety harvested at mature bud stage
will picked at random after preparation for export
120 stems of 60 cm length of each variety will be used.
Two glyphosate formulations (RoundupTM (360g
glyphosate /l) and GlyproTM with (480g glyphosate /l)
Preparation of the dipping solution (AQIS T9273 (2011)
protocol )
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Concentrate calculation will be done by the given formula
5.4 x volume of solution required (ml)/Active ingredient
(a.i).
For 20 litres solution of Roundup formulation glyphosate
(360g/l), 300ml of Roundup concentrate will be added
For Glypro (480g/l) formulation, 225 ml will be added to
form 20 litres solution.
The vase life experiment;
 Sixty stems of each variety will be dipped to a depth of 55
cm at a room temperature (20 ± 1oC) for 20 minutes in the
roundup 360glyphosate/l formulation solution. The same
procedure will be followed for Glypro (480g glyphosate/l).
 The flowers will then be removed from the solution and
allowed to drip off the solution.
 Of the treated stems, 20 stems of each variety will then be
kept in flower vases with ordinary deionized water at room
temperature (20 ± 2oC) and at 60% RH. This will be
replicated 3 times with untreated control.
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The experiment will be factorial in a CRD design
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Data to be collected will be:
discoloration of petals,
no. of stems with bent heads,
no of stems with fallen leaves,
dead stems and petal fall.
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The vase life of the inflorescence will be considered
terminated when 50% of the open flowers have wilted or
exhibited the above signs (Redman et al, 2001).
The propagatability Test
 This will be carried out at the Oserian flower company farm
on 60 cm rose cut flowers using the two glyphosate
formulations at four dipping depths (25, 35, 45 and 55)
following the devitalisation protocol and a control
 the treated stems will then be cut for propagation test.
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Fifteen cuttings with at least three nodes and one leaf from
each treatment will be dipped in a rooting hormone
(commercial Auxin – Indole -3-Acetic Acid) before being
planted in trays of coccus rooting media.
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The cuttings will be planted in the media up to a depth of
2-3 cm.
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They will be kept in the rooting media for 30 days in the
green house at optimal propagation conditions of 25 30oC and 100% RH. The treatments will be replicated
three times.
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The experimental layout will be Factorial in a Complete
Randomized Design.
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A repeat of the same experiment shall be done.
Data to be collected will be:
The treatment effectiveness will be determined by the
cutting’s inability to root.

Data to be collected will be:
- Number of cuttings with roots
 May opt to use a score 0 (without roots) and 1 (with
roots)
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Survey data management and analysis will be done with aid
of the SPSS statistical program.
Vase life and Propagatability experiments data will be
subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) by Genstat
statistical software (Payne, et al., 2006)
EXPECTED OUTPUT:
1.
Reduced levels of non-compliance since we hope the
results will provide a documented negotiating tool.
2.
Improved cut flower export to Australia and other equally
stringent markets.
3.
A n informed industry.
ACTIVITY
MONTH OF YR 2012
J
Literature Review
Proposal writing
Questionair prep. &
testing
Survey & data
collection
Vase life
experiment
Propagatability
Experiment
Data analysis
Thesis writing
Submission and
Defence
F
M A M J
J
A S
YEAR 2013
O N D J
F
M A M J
ITEM
DESCRIPTION
ESTIMATED COST
(KSH)
Transport
Self and Enumerators
25,000.00
Communication
(Air time & Internet)
10,000.00
6 Enumerators for 5 days
30,000.00
Formulation purchase, and
55,000.00
Enumerators
Laboratory requirements
other consumables or
equipments
Cut Flowers
Roses and Hypericums
20,000.00
Labour
Field and technical assistance
20,000.00
Lunches
6 Enumerators and self
17,500.00
For 10 days
Questionnaire preparation
Proposal and Thesis preparation
Printing and photocopying -
8,000.00
Stationary, printing and
45,000.00
binding
Miscellaneous
GRAND TOTAL
To cater for unforeseen costs
10,000.00
240,500.00