Genotype by environment interaction effect and fresh root yield stability of cassava genotypes under contrasting nitrogen regimes.

Nitrogen (N) is an important nutrient element needed by cassava for optimum yield and it is a vital component of nucleotides (nucleic acids), enzymes, amino acids (proteins), chlorophyll molecules and hormones, among other essential compounds required for growth and development of cassava. Nitrogen stress is a major cassava production constraint, the study aimed to examine genotype by environment interaction (GEI) effects and fresh root yield stability of 203 diverse cassava clones to identify genotypes with stable performance under low and optimum nitrogen regimes across environments using AMMI and GGE biplot analysis. Experiments were conducted using an augmented block design with three replications for two years in three locations in Nigeria.

Validation of SNP Markers for Diversity Analysis, Quality Control, and Trait Selection in a Biofortified Cassava Population.

A validated marker system is crucial to running an effective genomics-assisted breeding program. We used 36 Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) markers to genotype 376 clones from the biofortified cassava pipeline, and fingerprinted 93 of these clones with DArTseq markers to characterize breeding materials and evaluate their relationships. The discriminating ability of the 36-quality control (QC) KASP and 6602 DArTseq markers was assessed using 92 clones genotyped in both assays.

Exploring the genetic diversity and population structure of aerial yams (Dioscorea bulbifera L.) DArT-seq and agronomic traits.

Dioscorea bulbifera is an edible yam specie with aerial bulbils. Assessing the genetic diversity of D. bulbifera accession for cultivation and breeding purposes is essential for it genetic improvement, especially where the crop faces minimal attention.

Computational models for improving surveillance for the early detection of direct introduction of cassava brown streak disease in Nigeria.

Cassava is a key source of calories for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa but its role as a food security crop is threatened by the cross-continental spread of cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) that causes high yield losses. In order to mitigate the impact of CBSD, it is important to minimise the delay in first detection of CBSD after introduction to a new country or state so that interventions can be deployed more effectively. Using a computational model that combines simulations of CBSD spread at both the landscape and field scales, we model the effectiveness of different country level survey strategies in Nigeria when CBSD is directly introduced.

Near infrared spectroscopy for cooking time classification of cassava genotypes.

Cooking time is a crucial determinant of culinary quality of cassava roots and incorporating it into the early stages of breeding selection is vital for breeders. This study aimed to assess the potential of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in classifying cassava genotypes based on their cooking times. Five cooking times (15, 20, 25, 30, and 40 minutes) were assessed and 888 genotypes evaluated over three crop seasons (2019/2020, 2020/2021, and 2021/2022).

Determination of genomic regions associated with early storage root formation and bulking in cassava.

Early cassava storage root formation and bulking is a medium of escape that farmers and processors tend to adopt in cases of abiotic and biotic stresses like drought, flood, and destruction by domestic animals. In this study, 220 cassava genotypes from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), local farmers (from farmer's field), and NextGen project were evaluated in three locations (Umudike, Benue, and Ikenne). The trials were laid out using a split plot in a randomized incomplete block design (alpha lattice) with two replications in 2 years.

Novel SNP markers and other stress-related genomic regions associated with nitrogen use efficiency in cassava.

Cassava productivity is constrained by low soil nitrogen, which is predominant in most cassava-growing regions in the tropics and subtropical agroecology. Improving the low nitrogen tolerance of cassava has become an important breeding objective. The current study aimed to develop cassava varieties with improved nitrogen use efficiency by identifying genomic regions and candidate genes linked to nitrogen use efficiency in cassava.

A case of transdisciplinarity and collaborative decision making: the co-construction of Gendered Food Product Profiles.

Crop breeding in sub-Saharan Africa has made considerable gains; however, postharvest and food-related preferences have been overlooked, in addition to how these preferences vary by gender, social difference and context. This context is changing as participatory approaches using intersectional gender and place-based methods are beginning to inform how breeding programmes make decisions. This article presents an innovative methodology to inclusively and democratically prioritise food quality traits of root, tuber and banana crops based on engagement with food systems actors and transdisciplinary collaboration.

Gender-inclusive consumer studies improve cassava breeding in Nigeria.

Including gender research in cassava breeding makes it easier for farmers to adopt new varieties that meet the specific needs and preferences of both male and female farmers, leading to increased adoption of new varieties, improved productivity, and better economic outcomes for the entire farming community. Gender was included in 2013 in variety development at the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Nigeria in response to the dis-adoption of some varieties by farmers who had not been part of varietal development from the start, and in light of social roles which influence the responsibilities, resources and livelihood outcomes of men, women and youths. Gender inclusion has given plant breeders accurate information about the cassava traits preferred by all end-users, not just male farmers.

Cassava retting ability and textural attributes of fufu for demand-driven cassava breeding.

Background: Cassava retting ability and the textural qualities of cooked fufu are important quality traits. Cassava retting is a complex process in which soaking causes tissue breakdown, starch release, and softening. The rate at which various traits linked to it evolve varies greatly during fufu processing.

The tricot approach: an agile framework for decentralized on-farm testing supported by citizen science. A retrospective.

Matching crop varieties to their target use context and user preferences is a challenge faced by many plant breeding programs serving smallholder agriculture. Numerous participatory approaches proposed by CGIAR and other research teams over the last four decades have attempted to capture farmers' priorities/preferences and crop variety field performance in representative growing environments through experimental trials with higher external validity. Yet none have overcome the challenges of scalability, data validity and reliability, and difficulties in capturing socio-economic and environmental heterogeneity.

Prioritizing preferred traits in the yam value chain in Nigeria: a gender situation analysis.

This study describes what did and did not work in the prioritization of preferred traits within the value chain of yam and associated food products (boiled and pounded yam) in Nigeria. Demand-led breeding protocols have enhanced participatory methods along gender lines to increase the clarity of information on the yam traits preferred by farmers and other end users. Drawing on the experience of the cross-cutting gender team at the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, and partners, this study documents the successes and constraints in the use of gender-inclusive approaches for effective breeding.

Review of instrumental texture measurements as phenotypic tool to assess textural diversity of root, tuber and banana food products.

Roots, tubers and bananas (RTBs) contribute immensely to food security and livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America. The adoption of RTB genotypes in these regions relies on the interplay among agronomic traits, ease of processing and consumer preference. In breeding RTBs, until recently little attention was accorded key textural traits preferred by consumers.

Varietal impact on women's labour, workload and related drudgery in processing root, tuber and banana crops: focus on cassava in sub-Saharan Africa.

Roots, tubers and cooking bananas are bulky and highly perishable. In Africa, except for yams, their consumption is mainly after transport, peeling and cooking in the form of boiled pieces or dough, a few days after harvest. To stabilize and better preserve the products and, in the case of cassava, release toxic cyanogenic glucosides, a range of intermediate products have been developed, mainly for cassava, related to fermentation and drying after numerous processing operations.

Exploring genetic variability, heritability, and trait correlations in gari and eba quality from diverse cassava varieties in Nigeria.

Background: Gari (especially in Nigeria) is an important West African food product made from cassava. It is an affordable, precooked, dry, easy to prepare and store food product. Eba is a stiff dough produced by reconstituting gari in hot water.

Comparative evolutionary analyses of eight whitefly Bemisia tabaci sensu lato genomes: cryptic species, agricultural pests and plant-virus vectors.

Background: The group of > 40 cryptic whitefly species called Bemisia tabaci sensu lato are amongst the world's worst agricultural pests and plant-virus vectors. Outbreaks of B. tabaci s.

Food quality profile of pounded yam and implications for yam breeding.

Background: Assessment of the key preferred quality traits in pounded yam, a popularly consumed yam food product in West Africa, is often done through sensory evaluation. Such assessment is time-consuming and results may be biased. Therefore, there is a need to develop objective, high-throughput methods to predict the quality of consumer-preferred traits in pounded yam.

Comparative Metabolomics Profiling Reveals Key Metabolites and Associated Pathways Regulating Tuber Dormancy in White Yam ( Poir.).

Yams are economic and medicinal crops with a long growth cycle, spanning between 9-11 months due to their prolonged tuber dormancy. Tuber dormancy has constituted a major constraint in yam production and genetic improvement. In this study, we performed non-targeted comparative metabolomic profiling of tubers of two white yam genotypes, ( and ), to identify metabolites and associated pathways that regulate yam tuber dormancy using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Connecting data for consumer preferences, food quality, and breeding in support of market-oriented breeding of root, tuber, and banana crops.

The 5-year project 'Breeding roots, tubers and banana products for end user preferences' (RTBfoods) focused on collecting consumers' preferences on 12 food products to guide breeding programmes. It involved multidisciplinary teams from Africa, Latin America, and Europe. Diverse data types were generated on preferred qualities of users (farmers, family and entrepreneurial processors, traders or retailers, and consumers).

Selection of new sweetpotato hybrids for West Africa using accelerated breeding scheme and genotype × environment interaction under drought stress.

West Africa is a dry region and drought tolerant sweetpotato cultivar was not reported. The objective of this study was to develop higher yielding drought tolerant sweetpotato hybrids following accelerated breeding scheme (ABS), and study G × E interaction. During advanced yield trial, the assessment of clones was conducted in six locations: four in Niger and two in Nigeria.

Characterizing quality traits of boiled yam: texture and taste for enhanced breeding efficiency and impact.

Background: Boiled yam key quality attributes typical for West African consumers are that it is crumbly, easy to break and has a sweet taste. New yam varieties are being developed but high- or medium-throughput tools to assess the required quality traits and their range of acceptance are limited. This study assessed the acceptance thresholds of these quality attributes and established predictive models for screening yam varieties that meet the required consumer preferences.

Variability and genetic merits of white Guinea yam landraces in Nigeria.

Introduction: Landraces represent a significant gene pool of African cultivated white Guinea yam diversity. They could, therefore, serve as a potential donor of important traits such as resilience to stresses as well as food quality attributes that may be useful in modern yam breeding. This study assessed the pattern of genetic variability, quantitative trait loci (QTLs), alleles, and genetic merits of landraces, which could be exploited in breeding for more sustainable yam production in Africa.