Identifying efficient testers for separating maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines into heterotic groups can facilitate the development of superior hybrids. Striga-resistant yellow-maize inbred lines developed at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) do not have well established heterotic groups. This study was conducted to identify efficient testers for classifying yellow-maize inbred lines into heterotic groups. Thirty Striga-resistant inbred lines were crossed with three testers ...

Regular vegetation patterns have been predicted to indicate a system slowing down and possibly desertification of drylands. However, these predictions have not yet been observed in dryland vegetation due to the inherent logistic difficulty to gather longer-term in situ data. Here, we evaluate the theoretical prediction that regular vegetation patterns are associated with empirically derived temporal indicators (autocorrelation, variance, responsiveness) of critical slowing down in a dryland ecosystem ...

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a staple crop for ~800 million people in sub-Saharan Africa. Its production and productivity are being heavily affected by the two viral diseases: cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) and cassava mosaic disease (CMD), impacting greatly on edible root yield. CBSD is currently endemic to central, eastern and southern Africa, if not contained could spread to West Africa the largest cassava producer and consumer in the continent. Genomic selection (GS) has been ...

Genetic enhancement of cassava aimed at improving cooking and eating quality traits is a major goal for cassava breeders to address the demand for varieties that are desirable for the fresh consumption market segment. Adoption of such cassava genotypes by consumers will largely rely not only on their agronomic performance, but also on end-user culinary qualities such as root mealiness. The study aimed to examine genotype × environment interaction (GEI) effects for root mealiness and other culinary ...

East African banana (Musa sp.) breeding efforts have focused mainly on enhancing ‘Matooke’ productivity through the development of high-yielding, pathogen-resistant cultivars with adequate stability to contribute to regional food security. Before a breeding program can recommend promising cultivars for release, they must pass the sensory screens; be evaluated in the target population environments; and the data analyzed for yield, adaptability, and stability. Twenty-four primary and secondary ...

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), has now become a pest of global concern. Originally known to be endemic to the Western Hemisphere, its first detection in Africa was followed by spectacular outbreaks and spread to almost all sub-Saharan countries. The rapid incursion of S. frugiperda on maize (Zea mays L.; Poaceae) fields in Africa highlighted a crucial need for a comprehensive assessment of integrated pest management strategies in most smallholder ...

Yam mosaic virus (YMV) is a major threat to yam production in West Africa. This study determined factors contributing to the spread of YMV in yam fields, including the role of aphid vectors, seed-borne infections, YMV inoculum in the fields, weather, genetic diversity of the virus, and spatial distance between infected sources. The findings of this study are useful for refining YMV control measures, developing a model for disease risk assessment under different scenarios, and guiding clean seed ...

Many introduced pests (=pathogens, pests, and weeds) are responsible for major crop disease epidemics. The estimated economic impact of introduced pests on Africa's agricultural sector was up to US$3.6 trillion per year. Seed transmission of pests, along with the international distribution of plant propagation materials, is a major risk for germplasm distribution activities of IITA. As a pest risk mitigation measure, IITA established Germplasm Health Unit (GHU) to facilitate germplasm production ...

Post-harvest losses in cowpea are mostly caused by the infestation of Callosobruchus maculatus, a storage pest. It can cause up to 100% loss of untreated produce. Host Plant Resistance (HPR), an important component of integrated pest management, has potential for sustainable management of C. maculatus. The objective of this study was to assess a recently collected cowpea germplasm from Togo for resistance to C. maculatus. A total of 200 cowpea accessions from the five regions of Togo and five ...

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) plays a key role in family farming systems in Senegal. It makes an essential contribution to economic, nutritional and food security. Although it is crucial, little is known about how farmers classify the diversity of local varieties or about the social practices associated with them. The aim of this study is to characterize the farming practices associated with growing cowpea in Senegal. Surveys were conducted involving 335 rural farmers living in 37 villages, spread ...