19 research outputs found
Plant genomics in Africa: present and prospects
Plants are the worldâs most consumed goods. They are of high economic value and bring many health
benefits. In most countries in Africa, the supply and quality of food will rise to meet the growing populationâs
increasing demand. Genomics and other biotechnology tools offer the opportunity to improve subsistence
crops and medicinal herbs in the continent. Significant advances have been made in plant genomics,
which have enhanced our knowledge of the molecular processes underlying both plant quality and yield.
The sequencing of complex genomes of African plant species, facilitated by the continuously evolving nextgeneration
sequencing technologies and advanced bioinformatics approaches, has provided new opportunities
for crop improvement. This review summarizes the achievements of genome sequencing projects of
endemic African plants in the last two decades. We also present perspectives and challenges for future plant
genomic studies that will accelerate important plant breeding programs for African communities. These
challenges include a lack of basic facilities, a lack of sequencing and bioinformatics facilities, and a lack of
skills to design genomics studies. However, it is imperative to state that African countries have become key
players in the plant genome revolution and genome derived-biotechnology. Therefore, African governments
should invest in public plant genomics research and applications, establish bioinformatics platforms and
training programs, and stimulate university and industry partnerships to fully deploy plant genomics, particularly
in the fields of agriculture and medicine
Seasonal variability of picophytoplankton under contrasting environments in northern Tunisian coasts, southwestern Mediterranean Sea
We investigated at the single cell level during 16 months (June 2012 to September 2013) the temporal distribution of picophytoplankton (picoeukaryotes, Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus) communities in two contrasted ecosystems: the Bay of Bizerte characterised by an oligotrophic regime typical of the Mediterranean Sea and the Bizerte Lagoon that exhibits a mesotrophic/eutrophic state. We aimed at depicting seasonal variations and quantifying the relationships between the environmental factors and the structure and abundance of picophytoplankton communities. Results showed that picophytoplankton groups were able to grow under a wide range of environmental conditions varying seasonally, although their abundances and contributions to the total chlorophyll biomass significantly varied and showed importance in the Bay of Bizerte. Synechococcus was the most abundant group reaching 225 * 10(3) cells.cm(-3) in the Bay and 278 * 10(3) cells.cm(-3) in the lagoon. This group was present all over the year in both ecosystems. Structural equation model results pointed out a different configuration regarding the picophytoplankton environmental drivers. The complexity of the configuration, i.e. number of significant links within the system, decreased under enhanced eutrophication conditions. The less exposure to anthropogenic stress, i.e. in the Bay of Bizerte, highlight a larger role of nutrient and hydrological conditions on the seasonal variations of picophytoplankton, whereas a negative effect of eutrophication on picophytoplankton communities was unveiled in the Bizerte Lagoon. We stress that such influence may be exacerbated under expected scenarios of Mediterranean warming conditions and nutrient release in coastal ecosystems