Genetic diversity and population structure of superior shea trees (Vitellaria paradoxa subsp. paradoxa) using SNP markers for the establishment of a core collection in Côte d'Ivoire.

Background: The shea tree is a well-known carbon sink in Africa that requires a sustainable conservation of its gene pool. However, the genetic structure of its population is not well studied, especially in Côte d'Ivoire. In this study, 333 superior shea tree genotypes conserved in situ in Côte d'Ivoire were collected and genotyped with the aim of investigating its genetic diversity and population structure to facilitate suitable conservation and support future breeding efforts to adapt to climate change effects.

An innovative optimized protocol for high-quality genomic DNA extraction from recalcitrant Shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa, C.F. Gaertn) plant and its suitability for downstream applications.

Background: It is not always easy to find a universal protocol for the extraction of genomic DNA (gDNA) from plants. Extraction of gDNA from plants such as shea with a lot of polysaccharides in their leaves is done in two steps: a first step to remove the polysaccharides and a second step for the extraction of the gDNA. In this work, we designed a protocol for extracting high-quality gDNA from shea tree and demonstrate its suitability for downstream molecular applications.

Role of myo-inositol phosphate synthase and sucrose synthase genes in plant seed development.

The aim of this review is to highlight the role of myo-inositol phosphate synthase (MIPS), which catalyses the first step in inositol biosynthesis and of sucrose synthase (Sus), an enzyme involved in UDP-glucose formation, the principal nucleoside diphosphate in the sucrose cleavage reaction and in trehalose biosynthesis. These two enzymes are involved in various physiological processes including seed growth and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The study of mutated MIPS and Sus genes in some crops, such as soybean and cotton, has shown that these two proteins are directly involved in embryogenesis.