Protein and amino acid composition of different quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa willd) cultivars grown under field conditions in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia

Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) remains a public health concern in most developing nations. In Africa, PEM can be attributed to monotonous diets based on cereals, roots, and tubers, with little or no protein of animal origin. Diversifying cropping systems to include protein dense pseudo-cereals such as Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) could help provide more protein in the diet of vulnerable populations. Quinoa is a crop with potential for biodiversification because it has a high nutritional value; however, it is underutilized in Africa, and information about the nutritional quality of the grain grown in contrasting environments is limited. Within the framework of FAO’s commemoration of 2013 as the ‘The International Year of the Quinoa’ (IYQ), a Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) project was developed with some African countries to assess the capacity of quinoa to adapt to different agro-ecological regions and the nutritional quality of the resulting grain. For this study, we evaluated the protein content and amino acidprofile of three genotypes of quinoa that had been grown under diverse altitudes, soil, and climate conditions in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia. The mean protein content (g/100g) of Kancolla, Titicaca and BBR varieties grown in Africa ranged from 14.33 ±0.20 to 17.61 ±0.55, 14.23 ±0.25 to 16.65 ±0.55, and 13.13 ±0.2 to 16.23 ±0.49, respectively. On the other hand, the protein content (g/100g) of Kancolla, Titicaca, and BBR seeds grown in Peru was 13.80 ±0.10, 17.43 ±0.31, and 17.07 ±0.11, respectively. The Kancolla variety [grown in Ethiopia and Kenya] had a significantly higher protein content than that obtained from Peru [P < 0.001]. Regarding the profile of essential amino acids, Quinoa is essentially richer in methionine than most cereals. Levels of methionine were lower in the seeds grown in Africa compared to those from Peru [P < 0.001]. In terms of environmental influences, the protein content was relatively higher in quinoa seeds grown in high-altitude areas, where soils have a low pH and high nitrogen content. We conclude that Quinoa can be introduced to Africa, especially to high altitudes and warm regions where the soil has a low pH and high nitrogen content. Thecrop would be ideal for diversifying local diets. Key words: Africa, Agro-ecology, Chenopodium quinoa, protein, amino acid content, biodiversity, diet

Development and delivery of bean varieties in Africa: The Pan- Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) Model

Common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) has evolved rapidly in Africa and is steadily transforming from a traditional subsistence to a market-oriented crop, with major impacts on household incomes, food and nutritional security, and national economies. However, these benefits are yet to be felt in many parts of the continent because of multiple constraints that limit bean productivity. The Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) has been at the forefront of efforts to accelerate the transition of beans from a subsistence crop to a modern commodity in Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper presents a unique partnership model and the breeding and seed delivery strategies used by PABRA to reach millions of beneficiaries with improved bean varieties. The breeding strategy involved the paradigm shift from a monolithic approach where varieties were bred for yield or resistance to single environmental stresses, to a grain type-led and market-driven approach. The PABRA model comprises partnerships between and among Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), public and private sector actors along the varied bean product value chains, and technology end-users. This model led to the release of over 200 varieties during 2003-2011, including beans with resistance to multiple constraints (biotic and abiotic), high iron and zinc content, and those for specific niche markets. PABRA reached 7.5 million households with seed of improved bean varieties during 2003- 2008 and is expected to reach an additional 14 million by 2013. From this undertaking, aspects that lend to policy recommendations to key stakeholders in the common beans value chain include: facilitation of access to credit; promotion of breeder and foundation seed production; easing of restrictions on the release of varieties; facilitation of collective marketing schemes; and deliberate policy frameworks to encourage the use of complementary integrated crop management practices.En Afrique, le haricot commun ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) a connu une \ue9volution rapide se transformant d\u2019une culture de subsistance traditionnelle en une marchandise commerciale avec des impacts majeurs sur les revenus, la s\ue9curit\ue9 alimentaire et nutritionnelle des m\ue9nages ainsi que sur l\u2019\ue9conomie nationale. Toutefois, ces avantages ne sont pas tellement per\ue7us dans nombreuses r\ue9gions du continent en raison de multiples contraintes (biotiques et abiotiques) qui limitent la rentabilit\ue9 et la commercialisation du haricot. L\u2019Alliance Panafricaine de Recherche sur l\u2019Haricot (PABRA - Pan Africa Bean Research Alliance) est \ue0 l\u2019avant-garde des efforts visant acc\ue9l\ue9rer cette transition du haricot en Afrique sub-saharienne. Cet article pr\ue9sente un mod\ue8le de partenariat unique, et les strat\ue9gies de s\ue9lection et vulgarisation des vari\ue9t\ue9s utilis\ue9es par PABRA pour faciliter l\u2019acc\ue8s des millions de b\ue9n\ue9ficiaires aux vari\ue9t\ue9s am\ue9lior\ue9es du haricot. La strat\ue9gie de s\ue9lection exigeait le changement d\u2019une approche monolithique o\uf9 les vari\ue9t\ue9s \ue9taient s\ue9lectionn\ue9es pour leur rendement ou leur r\ue9sistance aux stress environnementaux simples, \ue0 une approche bas\ue9e sur le type de grain et ax\ue9e sur le march\ue9. Le mod\ue8le de PABRA comprend les partenariats entre et parmi le Centre International d\u2019Agriculture Tropical(CIAT), les syst\ue8mes nationaux de recherche agricole (NARS), les acteurs publics et priv\ue9s le long des diff\ue9rentes cha\ueenes de valeur du haricot, et les utilisateurs de nouvelles technologies. Ce mod\ue8le a conduit \ue0 l\u2019enregistrement de plus de 200 vari\ue9t\ue9s durant la p\ue9riode 2003-2011, y compris les haricots avec r\ue9sistance \ue0 multiples contraintes (biotiques et abiotiques), un contenu \ue9lev\ue9 de fer (Fe) et du zinc (Zn), et ceux pour les march\ue9s de niches sp\ue9cifiques. PABRA a atteint 7,5 millions de m\ue9nages facilitant leur acc\ue8s aux semences de vari\ue9t\ue9s am\ue9lior\ue9es de haricots durant la p\ue9riode 2003 2008 et devrait atteindre quelque 14 millions de personnes suppl\ue9mentaires d\u2019ici 2013. Les recommandations aux d\ue9cideurs politiques qui visent \ue0 renforcer le d\ue9veloppement et la vulgarisation des vari\ue9t\ue9s am\ue9lior\ue9es du haricot comprennent: la facilitation de l\u2019acc\ue8s au cr\ue9dit; promotion de la production de semences de base et pr\ue9-base; assouplissement des restrictions sur la diffusion des vari\ue9t\ue9s; facilitation des r\ue9gimes de commercialisation collective; et des cadres de politique visant \ue0 encourager la gestion int\ue9gr\ue9e des cultures chez les cultivateurs de haricot

Development and delivery of bean varieties in Africa: The Pan- Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) Model

Common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) has evolved rapidly in Africa and is steadily transforming from a traditional subsistence to a market-oriented crop, with major impacts on household incomes, food and nutritional security, and national economies. However, these benefits are yet to be felt in many parts of the continent because of multiple constraints that limit bean productivity. The Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) has been at the forefront of efforts to accelerate the transition of beans from a subsistence crop to a modern commodity in Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper presents a unique partnership model and the breeding and seed delivery strategies used by PABRA to reach millions of beneficiaries with improved bean varieties. The breeding strategy involved the paradigm shift from a monolithic approach where varieties were bred for yield or resistance to single environmental stresses, to a grain type-led and market-driven approach. The PABRA model comprises partnerships between and among Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), public and private sector actors along the varied bean product value chains, and technology end-users. This model led to the release of over 200 varieties during 2003-2011, including beans with resistance to multiple constraints (biotic and abiotic), high iron and zinc content, and those for specific niche markets. PABRA reached 7.5 million households with seed of improved bean varieties during 2003- 2008 and is expected to reach an additional 14 million by 2013. From this undertaking, aspects that lend to policy recommendations to key stakeholders in the common beans value chain include: facilitation of access to credit; promotion of breeder and foundation seed production; easing of restrictions on the release of varieties; facilitation of collective marketing schemes; and deliberate policy frameworks to encourage the use of complementary integrated crop management practices.En Afrique, le haricot commun ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) a connu une évolution rapide se transformant d’une culture de subsistance traditionnelle en une marchandise commerciale avec des impacts majeurs sur les revenus, la sécurité alimentaire et nutritionnelle des ménages ainsi que sur l’économie nationale. Toutefois, ces avantages ne sont pas tellement perçus dans nombreuses régions du continent en raison de multiples contraintes (biotiques et abiotiques) qui limitent la rentabilité et la commercialisation du haricot. L’Alliance Panafricaine de Recherche sur l’Haricot (PABRA - Pan Africa Bean Research Alliance) est à l’avant-garde des efforts visant accélérer cette transition du haricot en Afrique sub-saharienne. Cet article présente un modèle de partenariat unique, et les stratégies de sélection et vulgarisation des variétés utilisées par PABRA pour faciliter l’accès des millions de bénéficiaires aux variétés améliorées du haricot. La stratégie de sélection exigeait le changement d’une approche monolithique où les variétés étaient sélectionnées pour leur rendement ou leur résistance aux stress environnementaux simples, à une approche basée sur le type de grain et axée sur le marché. Le modèle de PABRA comprend les partenariats entre et parmi le Centre International d’Agriculture Tropical(CIAT), les systèmes nationaux de recherche agricole (NARS), les acteurs publics et privés le long des différentes chaînes de valeur du haricot, et les utilisateurs de nouvelles technologies. Ce modèle a conduit à l’enregistrement de plus de 200 variétés durant la période 2003-2011, y compris les haricots avec résistance à multiples contraintes (biotiques et abiotiques), un contenu élevé de fer (Fe) et du zinc (Zn), et ceux pour les marchés de niches spécifiques. PABRA a atteint 7,5 millions de ménages facilitant leur accès aux semences de variétés améliorées de haricots durant la période 2003 2008 et devrait atteindre quelque 14 millions de personnes supplémentaires d’ici 2013. Les recommandations aux décideurs politiques qui visent à renforcer le développement et la vulgarisation des variétés améliorées du haricot comprennent: la facilitation de l’accès au crédit; promotion de la production de semences de base et pré-base; assouplissement des restrictions sur la diffusion des variétés; facilitation des régimes de commercialisation collective; et des cadres de politique visant à encourager la gestion intégrée des cultures chez les cultivateurs de haricot

Chilli anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum species§

Anthracnose disease is one of the major economic constraints to chilli production worldwide, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Accurate taxonomic information is necessary for effective disease control management. In the Colletotrichum patho-system, different Colletotrichum species can be associated with anthracnose of the same host. Little information is known concerning the interactions of the species associated with the chilli anthracnose although several Colletotrichum species have been reported as causal agents of chilli anthracnose disease worldwide. The ambiguous taxonomic status of Colletotrichum species has resulted in inaccurate identification which may cause practical problems in plant breeding and disease management. Although the management and control of anthracnose disease are still being extensively researched, commercial cultivars of Capsicum annuum that are resistant to the pathogens that cause chilli anthracnose have not yet been developed. This paper reviews the causal agents of chilli anthracnose, the disease cycle, conventional methods in identification of the pathogen and molecular approaches that have been used for the identification of Colletotrichum species. Pathogenetic variation and population structure of the causal agents of chilli anthracnose along with the current taxonomic status of Colletotrichum species are discussed. Future developments leading to the disease management strategies are suggested