Field evaluation of the impact of cocoa swollen shoot virus disease infection on yield traits of different cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) clones in Ghana.

Cocoa swollen shoot virus disease (CSSVD) is a major disease of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) in Ghana and other West African countries that grow the crop. Attempts to develop resistant varieties since the discovery of the disease in 1936 have yielded little success.

Genomic Resources to Guide Improvement of the Shea Tree.

A defining component of agroforestry parklands across Sahelo-Sudanian Africa (SSA), the shea tree () is central to sustaining local livelihoods and the farming environments of rural communities. Despite its economic and cultural value, however, not to mention the ecological roles it plays as a dominant parkland species, shea remains semi-domesticated with virtually no history of systematic genetic improvement. In truth, shea's extended juvenile period makes traditional breeding approaches untenable; but the opportunity for genome-assisted breeding is immense, provided the foundational resources are available.

Effectiveness of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Markers in Genotyping Germplasm Collections of Using KASP Assay.

Accurate genotype identification is imperative for effective use of L. germplasm to breed new varieties with tolerance or resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses (including moisture stress and pest and disease stresses such as coffee berry borer and rust) and for high yield and improved cup quality. The present study validated 192 published single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and selected a panel of 120 loci to examine parentage and labeling errors, genetic diversity, and population structure in 400 accessions assembled from different coffee-producing countries and planted in a field gene bank in Ghana.

Fine-mapping and identification of a candidate gene underlying the d2 dwarfing phenotype in pearl millet, Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone.

Pearl millet is one of the most important subsistence crops grown in India and sub-Saharan Africa. In many cereal crops, reduced height is a key trait for enhancing yield, and dwarf mutants have been extensively used in breeding to reduce yield loss due to lodging under intense management. In pearl millet, the recessive d2 dwarfing gene has been deployed widely in commercial germplasm grown in India, the United States, and Australia.