Use of low cost near-infrared spectroscopy, to predict pasting properties of high quality cassava flour.

Determination of pasting properties of high quality cassava flour using rapid visco analyzer is expensive and time consuming. The use of mobile near infrared spectroscopy (SCiO™) is an alternative high throughput phenotyping technology for predicting pasting properties of high quality cassava flour traits. However, model development and validation are necessary to verify that reasonable expectations are established for the accuracy of a prediction model.

Genome-Wide Association Analysis for Resistance to Causing Red Leaf Blotch Disease in Soybean.

Soybean is a high oil and protein-rich legume with several production constraints. Globally, several fungi, viruses, nematodes, and bacteria cause significant yield losses in soybean. (), the causal pathogen for red leaf blotch disease, is the least researched and causes severe damage to soybean.

Evaluation of Soybean Entries in the Pan-African Trials for Response to the Cause of Red Leaf Blotch.

Red leaf blotch (RLB), caused by the fungus , is an important disease of soybean known to cause yield losses across soybean-growing regions in Africa. Fungicides are one option to manage this disease, but utilization of host resistance may be a better option suited for smallholder soybean farmers in Africa. Fifty-nine soybean entries were evaluated for RLB severity in nine field locations in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia.

Continuous Storage Root Formation and Bulking in Sweetpotato.

This study investigated the phenotypic variation of continuous storage root formation and bulking (CSRFAB) growth patterns underlying the development of sweetpotato genotypes for identification of potential varieties adapted to piecemeal harvesting for small scale farmers. The research was conducted between September 2016 and August 2017 in Uganda. Genotypes from two distinct sweetpotato genepool populations (Population Uganda A and Population Uganda B) comprising 130 genotypes, previously separated using 31 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used.

Genome-wide association study identified candidate genes controlling continuous storage root formation and bulking in hexaploid sweetpotato.

Background: Continuous storage root formation and bulking (CSRFAB) in sweetpotato is an important trait from agronomic and biological perspectives. Information about the molecular mechanisms underlying CSRFAB traits is lacking.

Results: Here, as a first step toward understanding the genetic basis of CSRFAB in sweetpotato, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using phenotypic data from four distinct developmental stages and 33,068 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and insertion-deletion (indel) markers.