Sweetpotato cultivation: characteristics, constraints and preferred traits of producers and consumers in Côte d'Ivoire.

Background: In an environment where the adoption of improved varieties resulting from plant breeding programs is limited, it is essential to identify end-user preferences beforehand. A participatory survey was conducted in eight localities in Korhogo and Bouaké regions (central and northern Cote d'Ivoire respectively) to identify producers' preferences and increase the adoption of improved varieties. The study involved 160 producers and consumers through focus group discussions and individual interviews.

Quantitative trait loci and candidate genes for physico-chemical traits related to tuber quality in greater yam (Dioscorea alata L.).

Background: Starch, dry matter content (DMC), proteins, and sugars are among the major influences on yam tuber quality. Genetic improvement programs need simple, rapid, and low-cost tools to screen large populations. The objectives of this work were, using a quantitative trait loci mapping approach (QTL) on two diploid full-sib segregating populations, (i) to acquire knowledge about the genetic control of these traits; (ii) to identify markers linked to the genomic regions controlling each trait, which are useful for marker-assisted selection (MAS); (iii) to validate the QTLs on a diversity panel; and (iv) to identify candidate genes from the validated QTLs.

Identification and validation of QTLs for tuber quality related traits in greater yam (Dioscorea alata L.).

Two Dioscorea alata populations were generated by hand pollination between contrasted diploid genitors. Population A (74F × Kabusa) was composed of 121 progenies while population B (74F × 14M) involved 193 progenies. These two populations were assessed over two consecutive years regarding important tuber quality traits.

Diversity of Water Yam ( L.) Accessions from Côte d'Ivoire Based on SNP Markers and Agronomic Traits.

(L.), also referred to as water, winged, or greater yam, is one of the most economically important staple food crops in tropical and subtropical areas. In Côte d'Ivoire, it represents, along with other yam species, the largest food crop and significantly contributes to food security.

Detection and diversity of viruses infecting African yam () in a collection and F progenies in Côte d'Ivoire shed light to plant-to-plant viral transmission.

Yam ( spp.) is a major staple food whose production is hampered by viral diseases. However, the prevalence, diversity, transmission, and impact of yam-infecting viruses remain poorly documented.

A review of varietal change in roots, tubers and bananas: consumer preferences and other drivers of adoption and implications for breeding.

This review of the literature on varietal change in sub-Saharan Africa looks in detail at adoption of new varieties of bananas in Uganda, cassava in Nigeria, potato in Kenya, sweetpotato in Uganda and yams in Côte d'Ivoire. The review explored three hypotheses about drivers of varietal change. There was a strong confirmation for the hypothesis that insufficient priority given to consumer-preferred traits by breeding programmes contributes to the limited uptake of modern varieties (MVs) and low varietal turnover.