Determining the optimal gamma irradiation dose for developing novel cowpea () genotypes.

Purpose: Cowpea ( (L.) Walp.) is a major legume crops for human consumption and livestock feed in tropical regions.

Genetic diversity and population structure of cowpea mutant collection using SSR and ISSR molecular markers.

Cowpea is a seed legume, important for food and nutritional security in Africa's arid and semi-arid zones. Despite its importance, cowpea is experiencing a loss of genetic diversity due to climate change. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the genetic variability of 33 cowpea mutant collections using 20 SSR and 13 ISSR markers.

Genome-wide development of intra- and inter-specific transferable SSR markers and construction of a dynamic web resource for yam molecular breeding: Y2MD.

Microsatellite markers are widely used in population genetics and breeding. Despite the economic significance of yams in developing countries, there is a paucity of microsatellite markers, and as of now, no comprehensive microsatellite marker database exists. In this study, we conducted genome-wide microsatellite marker development across four yam species, identified cross-species transferable markers, and designed an easy-to-use web portal for the yam researchers.

Traces of Introgression from cAus into Tropical Japonica Observed in African Upland Rice Varieties.

Background: Asian rice Oryza sativa, first domesticated in East Asia, has considerable success in African fields. When and where this introduction occurred is unclear. Rice varieties of Asian origin may have evolved locally during and after migration to Africa, resulting in unique adaptations, particularly in relation to upland cultivation as frequently practiced in Africa.

Transcriptomic analysis of methyl jasmonate treatment reveals gene networks involved in drought tolerance in pearl millet.

Water deficit stress at the early stage of development is one of the main factors limiting pearl millet production. One practice to counteract this limitation would be to resort to the application of hormones to stimulate plant growth and development at critical stages. Exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) can improve drought tolerance by modulating signaling, metabolism, and photosynthesis pathways, therefore, we assumed that can occur in pearl millet during the early stage of development.

Genome-wide association study and its applications in the non-model crop Sesamum indicum.

Background: Sesame is a rare example of non-model and minor crop for which numerous genetic loci and candidate genes underlying features of interest have been disclosed at relatively high resolution. These progresses have been achieved thanks to the applications of the genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach. GWAS has benefited from the availability of high-quality genomes, re-sequencing data from thousands of genotypes, extensive transcriptome sequencing, development of haplotype map and web-based functional databases in sesame.

GWAS unveils features between early- and late-flowering pearl millets.

Background: Pearl millet, a nutritious food for around 100 million people in Africa and India, displays extensive genetic diversity and a high degree of admixture with wild relatives. Two major morphotypes can be distinguished in Senegal: early-flowering Souna and late-flowering Sanio. Phenotypic variabilities related to flowering time play an important role in the adaptation of pearl millet to climate variability.

Ectopic expression of the sesame MYB transcription factor promotes root growth and modulates ABA-mediated tolerance to drought and salt stresses in .

An increasing number of candidate genes related to abiotic stress tolerance are being discovered and proposed to improve the existing cultivars of the high oil-bearing crop sesame ( L.). However, the functional validation of these genes is remarkably lacking.

The genetic basis of drought tolerance in the high oil crop Sesamum indicum.

Unlike most of the important food crops, sesame can survive drought but severe and repeated drought episodes, especially occurring during the reproductive stage, significantly curtail the productivity of this high oil crop. Genome-wide association study was conducted for traits related to drought tolerance using 400 diverse sesame accessions, including landraces and modern cultivars. Ten stable QTLs explaining more than 40% of the phenotypic variation and located on four linkage groups were significantly associated with drought tolerance related traits.

The contrasting response to drought and waterlogging is underpinned by divergent DNA methylation programs associated with transcript accumulation in sesame.

DNA methylation is a heritable epigenetic mechanism that participates in gene regulation under abiotic stresses in plants. Sesame (Sesamum indicum) is typically considered a drought-tolerant crop but highly susceptible to waterlogging, probably because of its origin in Africa or India. Understanding DNA methylation patterns under drought and waterlogging conditions can provide insights into the regulatory mechanisms underlying sesame contrasting responses to these abiotic stresses.

Transcription factors network in root endosymbiosis establishment and development.

Root endosymbioses are mutualistic interactions between plants and the soil microorganisms (Fungus, Frankia or Rhizobium) that lead to the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules and/or arbuscular mycorrhiza. These interactions enable many species to survive in different marginal lands to overcome the nitrogen-and/or phosphorus deficient environment and can potentially reduce the chemical fertilizers used in agriculture which gives them an economic, social and environmental importance. The formation and the development of these structures require the mediation of specific gene products among which the transcription factors play a key role.

Transcriptomic, biochemical and physio-anatomical investigations shed more light on responses to drought stress in two contrasting sesame genotypes.

Sesame is an important oilseed crop with a high oil quality. It is prone to drought stress in the arid and semi-arid areas where it is widely grown. This study aims to decipher the response of tolerant (DT) and sensitive (DS) genotypes to progressive drought based on transcriptome, biochemical and physio-anatomical characterizations.

The Emerging Oilseed Crop Enters the "Omics" Era.

Sesame ( L.) is one of the oldest oilseed crops widely grown in Africa and Asia for its high-quality nutritional seeds. It is well adapted to harsh environments and constitutes an alternative cash crop for smallholders in developing countries.

New Genetic Insights into Pearl Millet Diversity As Revealed by Characterization of Early- and Late-Flowering Landraces from Senegal.

Pearl millet ( (L.) R. Br.

Dynamic transcriptome landscape of sesame ( L.) under progressive drought and after rewatering.

Drought is one of the most important abiotic stresses that impair sesame ( L.) productivity mainly when it occurs at flowering stage. However up to now, very few studies have attempted to investigate the molecular responses of sesame to drought stress.

Genome-Wide Investigation of Hsf Genes in Sesame Reveals Their Segmental Duplication Expansion and Their Active Role in Drought Stress Response.

Sesame is a survivor crop cultivated for ages in arid areas under high temperatures and limited water conditions. Since its entire genome has been sequenced, revealing evolution, and functional characterization of its abiotic stress genes became a hot topic. In this study, we performed a whole-genome identification and analysis of Hsf gene family in sesame.

Insight into the AP2/ERF transcription factor superfamily in sesame and expression profiling of DREB subfamily under drought stress.

Background: Sesame is an important oilseed crop mainly grown in inclement areas with high temperatures and frequent drought. Thus, drought constitutes one of the major constraints of its production. The AP2/ERF is a large family of transcription factors known to play significant roles in various plant processes including biotic and abiotic stress responses.

Analysis of Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Sesame Accessions from Africa and Asia as Major Centers of Its Cultivation.

Sesame is an important oil crop widely cultivated in Africa and Asia. Understanding the genetic diversity of accessions from these continents is critical to designing breeding methods and for additional collection of sesame germplasm. To determine the genetic diversity in relation to geographical regions, 96 sesame accessions collected from 22 countries distributed over six geographic regions in Africa and Asia were genotyped using 33 polymorphic SSR markers.

Identification of potential transcriptional regulators of actinorhizal symbioses in Casuarina glauca and Alnus glutinosa.

Background: Trees belonging to the Casuarinaceae and Betulaceae families play an important ecological role and are useful tools in forestry for degraded land rehabilitation and reforestation. These functions are linked to their capacity to establish symbiotic relationships with a nitrogen-fixing soil bacterium of the genus Frankia. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling the establishment of these symbioses are poorly understood.

NaCl Effects on In Vitro Germination and Growth of Some Senegalese Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) Cultivars.

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is one of the most important grain legumes in sub-Saharian regions.

Angiosperm phylogeny: 17 genes, 640 taxa.

Premise Of The Study: Recent analyses employing up to five genes have provided numerous insights into angiosperm phylogeny, but many relationships have remained unresolved or poorly supported. In the hope of improving our understanding of angiosperm phylogeny, we expanded sampling of taxa and genes beyond previous analyses.

Methods: We conducted two primary analyses based on 640 species representing 330 families.

Phylogenetic signal in matK vs. trnK: a case study in early diverging eudicots (angiosperms).

The matK gene has been among the most useful loci for resolving plant phylogenetic relationships at different evolutionary time-scales, but much less is known about the phylogenetic utility of the flanking trnK intron, especially for deep level phylogenetics. We compared the relative performance of matK and trnK intron regions for resolving the relationships of the early diverging eudicots (angiosperms). The two regions display similar nucleotide compositions and distributions of rate variation among sites.