117 research outputs found
Aflatoxin free complementary food to improve the growth of the children
United States Agency for International Developmen
Operationalizing R4D and innovation platforms in East and Southern Africa
United States Agency for International Developmen
Progress and future prospects in groundnut improvement to feed Africa in the face of technological advancements
Crop productivity is crucial in meeting food demands to feed the growing population in the face of endemic biotic and abiotic stresses. Technological advancement and its application to boost crop productivity would be a pathway towards ensuring food and nutrition security.
Dryland legumes including groundnut are suitable in diversification of farming systems as insurance crops to ensure productivity. Crop improvement is one of the pillars towards enhancing productivity by delivering products and services based on demand articulation such as high yielding resilient varieties that are nutrient dense to address the global nutrition agenda. Recent advancements in molecular technology has made it possible to sequence the groundnut genome, develop genetic maps and identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for key traits of importance. These new developments need to be exploited
to accelerate the design and development of quality products that fits within the African farming systems. The low genotyping cost has opened avenues for research centers in African countries to embrace the use of genomic selection tools in breeding. This should enhance efficiency in exploiting the wild genetic resource base, broadening the narrow genetic base of groundnut and fast tracking variety release. The use of molecular tools in
breeding and wide hybridization techniques coupled with high throughput phenotyping is a new dawn to breeding programs and this would contribute significantly to food security and poverty alleviation in the long run. However, the success in the modernization of breeding for efficiency will be underpinned by pro-active engagement among different
actors in the national, regional and international arena to leverage resources and expertise in the omics era for sustained outcomes. Healthy working partnerships are also key to the delivery and utilization of such technologies coupled with learning and feedback for
product improvement
Delivering new sorghum and finger millet innovations for food security and improving livelihoods in Eastern Africa
ILRI works with partners worldwide to help poor people keep their farm animals alive and productive, increase and sustain their livestock and farm productivity, and find profitable markets for their animal products. ILRI’s headquarters are in Nairobi, Kenya; we have a principal campus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and 14 offices in other regions of Africa and Asia. ILRI is part of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (www.cgiar.org), which works to reduce hunger, poverty and environmental degradation in developing countries by generating and sharing relevant agricultural knowledge, technologies and policies
Quantitative Trait Loci Mapping in Maize for Resistance to Larger Grain Borer
Storability of maize grain is constrained by the larger grain borer (LGB) (Prostephanus truncatus). Host plant resistance is the most feasible way to manage LGB among smallholder farmers. Breeding for resistance to this pest inmaize is dependent on understanding genetic mechanisms underlying the resistance. The objective of this study was to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with LGB resistance in tropical maize. A mapping populationof 203 F2:3 derived progenies was developed from a cross between susceptible and resistant inbred lines.The F2:3 progenies were crossed to a tester and testcrosses evaluated across six environments, followed by screening for resistance to LGB. Data was collected on husk cover tip length, and grain texture in the field. Biochemical traits were analyzed on the maize grain. Harvested grain was evaluated for resistance and data recorded on grain damage, weight loss, and several insects. Grain hardness was measured as a putative trait of resistance. Univariate analysis of variance for all the traits was done using the general linear model of the statistical analysis system.Genetic mapping was done using Joinmap 4, while QTL analysis was done using PLABQTL. The QTL for resistance were mapped to 6 out of the ten chromosomes. QTL for resistance traits were located in chromosomes 1, 5 and 9.Chromosome 1 had a common QTL linked to protein content, grain hardness, and husk cover tip length. Additive genetic effects were prevalent in all detected QTL. Overall, the studies show that breeding for resistance to LGB is possible
Improving nutritional outcome of children in Tanzania and Malawi
United States Agency for International Developmen
REACTION OF Musa balbisiana TO BANANA BACTERIAL WILT NFECTION
Banana bacterial wilt ( Xanthomonas campestris ) is an emerging
disease of bananas in Uganda. All banana cultivars grown are
susceptible. Musa balbisiana , a wild banana relative exhibits a
progenitor like resistance type reaction to banana bacterial wilt
infection. The negative M. balbisiana disease reaction suggests it
could be used to improve banana resistance to banana bacterial wilt
disease. Screenhouse and field experiments were used to characterise
the reaction of M. balbisiana to banana bacterial wilt infetion. Psang
awak, a reference susceptible cultivar was used as a positive control.
No disease development on M. balbisiana under field and controlled
conditions was observed. In general, as early as two weeks after
inoculation, significant differences (P<0.05) were observed between
M. balbisiana and the susceptible banana cultivar, Psang awak (ABB).
Time course analysis of the possible role of Pathogenesis related
protein 2 (PR-2), Phenyl alanine ammonia lyase (PAL), Non-expressor of
pathogenesis related gene (NPR1) genes in Musa balbisiana resistance
reactions, revealed that only NPR1 was expressed 15 days after
inoculation with X. campestris at 108 dosage. The expression of NPR1, a
marker gene of the systemic acquired resistance plant defence system
provides preliminary evidence that this may be the major form of
resistance in Musa balbisiana to bacterial wilt infection.Le fl\ue9trissement bact\ue9rien du bananier ( Xanthomonas
campestris ) est une maladie \ue9mergente en Uganda, o\uf9 tous
les cultivars en sont susceptibles. Musa balbisiana , un bananier
relatif sauvage manifeste un type de r\ue9action de r\ue9sistance
prog\ue9nitrice \ue0 l\u2019infection due au fl\ue9trissement
bact\ue9rien. La r\ue9action n\ue9gative de M. balbisiana \ue0
la maladie sugg\ue8re que ceci pourrait \ueatre utilis\ue9 pour
am\ue9liorer la r\ue9sistance du bananier cette maladie. Des essais
en serre et en champs \ue9taient conduits pour caract\ue9riser la
r\ue9action de M. balbisiana \ue0 l\u2019infection du bananier par
le fl\ue9trissement bact\ue9rien. Le Psang awak, un cultivar
susceptible de r\ue9ference \ue9tait utils\ue9 comme t\ue9moins
positif. Aucun signe de d\ue9veloppement de la maladie
n\u2019\ue9tait observ\ue9 sur M. balbisiana dans les deux milieux
en champs et en serre. En g\ue9n\ue9ral, des diff\ue9rences
significatives (P<0.05) \ue9taient observ\ue9es plus t\uf4t
avant deux semaines apr\ue8s inoculation entre M. balbisiana et le
cultivar de bananier susceptible, Psang awak (ABB). L\u2019analyse du
temps de d\ue9roulement du r\uf4le possible de la pathogen\ue8se
li\ue9e \ue0 la prot\ue9ine 2 (PR-2), \ue0 la Ph\ue9nyl
alanine ammonia lyase (PAL), \ue0 la non-expression de la
pathogen\ue8se li\ue9e au g\ue9ne (NPR1) de r\ue9sistance
exprim\ue9e par Musa balbisiana, a r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 que
seulement NPR1 s\u2019\ue9tait exprim\ue9 15 jours apr\ue8s
inoculation du X. campestris au dosage de 108. L\u2019expression de
NPR1, un marqueur de g\ue8ne de r\ue9sistance acquis du
syst\ue8me de d\ue9fence des plantes fournit une \ue9vidence que
ceci serait une forme majeur de r\ue9sistance du Musa balbisiana
\ue0 l\u2019infection du fl\ue9trissement bact\ue9rien
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