Genetic Diversity of Jatropha curcas in Burkina Faso Revealed by Microsatellite Markers

Jatropha curcas L. is a perennial oleaginous plant commonly used in tropical areas as a medicinal plant in the construction of defensive hedges against animals, and in the fight against water erosion. It produces oil which can be used as agrofuel or soap-making. Despite its potential, the species remain under-exploited and its genetic diversity is still not very well-known in Burkina Faso. This paper focuses on determining the level and structure of the genetic diversity of 50 accessions collected in three phytogeographical sectors of the country using 12 microsatellite markers. Resultsrevealed a total of 37 alleles in the studied population with an average of 3 alleles per locus, a number of 2.717 effective alleles, and a Shannon diversity index of 1.663. Mean observed heterozygosity and mean expected heterozygosity were 0.144 and 0.356, respectively. Accessions were structured into three genetic groups. The high genetic distance of 0.177 was observed between groups A and B, and a low genetic distance of 0.075 was observed between groups B and C. These preliminary results showed that microsatellites are promising tools that can be used for the characterization of J. curcas. They indicate that the population studied has a low genetic diversity, but it is sufficient to develop programs for conservation and sustainable development of the species

Selection and validation of marker set for selection of resistant varieties of cowpea to Cowpea Aphid-borne Mosaic Virus (CABMV) in Burkina Faso

Objective: This study aims to validate of marker set for selection of resistant varieties of Cowpea Aphid-borneMosaic Virus.Methodology and results: A molecular characterization of five genotypes using seventeen (17) SSR markers was carried out.Conclusion and application of results: This study make it possible to identify four (4) polymorphic microsatellite markers (VM30, VM33, VM68 and VM70), that is to say a rate of 23, 52% of polymorphism versus 76, 47% of monomorphism. Two of the polymorphic markers- VM68 and VM30 were submitted to the test of validation. At the end of this test, VM68 was codominant, because it makes it possible to distinguish the heterozygous individuals (F1, BC1 F1) from the homozygous individuals (F2) while the marker VM30 was dominating. The marker VM68 was validated and proposed in selection assisted by the markers of cowpea for resistance to CABMV.Keywords: cowpea, Cowpea Aphid-borne Mosaic Virus ((CABMV), Microsatellites, Validation, Burkina Fas

Participatory analysis of vulnerability and adaptation to climate change: a methodological guide for working with rural communities. ICRAF Occasional Paper No. 19

This methodological guide was designed to help researchers and development workers to conduct a participatory analysis of vulnerability and adaptation to climate change (PAVACC) with rural communities, and to develop action plans that reflect the concerns of the rural communities. The approach helps rural communities to assess their vulnerability to climate change, and to identify and plan appropriate activities to reduce their vulnerability. In addition, it helps them to organize and analyze information about the vulnerability and resilience of their community, households and individuals, and to use local knowledge about coping strategies to help them adapt to climate change

Analyse participative de la vulnérabilité et de l’adaptation aux changements climatiques: un guide méthodologique

La vulnérabilité au changement climatique est un indicateur de sensibilité ou d’incapacité d’un système à faire face aux effets défavorables des variabilités et risques climatiques. Les communautés rurales connaissent mieux leurs situations. Elles ont leur façon de percevoir le phénomène de changement climatique; alors toute analyse de la vulnérabilité aux risques climatiques devrait s’appuyer sur leurs connaissances des conditions locales

Efficacy of a cry1Ab Gene for Control of Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Cowpea (Fabales: Fabaceae)

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.] is an important staple legume in the diet of many households in sub-Saharan Africa. Its production, however, is negatively impacted by many insect pests including bean pod borer, Maruca vitrata F., which can cause 20–80% yield loss. Several genetically engineered cowpea events that contain a cry1Ab gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) for resistance against M. vitrata were evaluated in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Ghana (West Africa), where cowpea is commonly grown. As part of the regulatory safety package, these efficacy data were developed and evaluated by in-country scientists. The Bt-cowpea lines were planted in confined field trials under Insect-proof netting and artificially infested with up to 500 M. vitrata larvae per plant during bud formation and flowering periods. Bt-cowpea lines provided nearly complete pod and seed protection and in most cases resulted in significantly increased seed yield over non-Bt control lines. An integrated pest management strategy that includes use of Bt-cowpea augmented with minimal insecticide treatment for protection against other insects is recommended to control pod borer to enhance cowpea production. The insect resistance management plan is based on the high-dose refuge strategy where non-Bt-cowpea and natural refuges are expected to provide M. vitrata susceptible to Cry1Ab protein. In addition, there will be a limited release of this product until a two-toxin cowpea pyramid is released. Other than South African genetically engineered crops, Bt-cowpea is the first genetically engineered food crop developed by the public sector and approved for release in sub-Saharan Africa.This article is published as Addae, Prince C., Mohammad F. Ishiyaku, Jean-Batiste Tignegre, Malick N. Ba, Joseph B. Bationo, Ibrahim DK Atokple, Mumuni Abudulai et al. "Efficacy of a cry1Ab Gene for Control of Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Cowpea (Fabales: Fabaceae)." Journal of Economic Entomology (2020). doi: 10.1093/jee/toz367.</p