January 2023

Evaluation of elite soybean (Glycine max L.) genotypes for nitrogen nutrition, water use efficiency and grain yield in the Guinea Savanna Agro Ecological Zone of Northern Ghana

Nitrogen is essential due to its function in plant growth and development. It is a component of DNA and proteins which are the building blocks of life. Nitrogen is one of the most limiting factors for crop production. The need to meet the huge nitrogen requirement has necessitated the use of synthetic fertilizer. However, its continued application affects soil health, environment, and agricultural sustainability....

Author(s): Duut Matey and Sanatu Mustapaha Alidu  

January 2023

Screening for yield-related agronomic traits in a panel of locally conserved common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) accessions

Characterization and conservation of germplasm is a critical step toward the genetic improvement of the crop. This study assessed variation in 257 common bean genotypes which included 207 accessions obtained the National Gene Bank of Kenya, 33 accessions from Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), 13 landraces collected from farmers’ fields and four commercial varieties for various...

Author(s): Wanjohi Wahome, Mwangi Githiri, Peter Kahenya Kinyanjui, Mary Esther Muyoka Toili, and  Geert Angenon

January 2023

Nutritional and phytochemical characterization of taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott] germplasm from Burkina Faso

Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) is a food crop mainly produced for its nutrient-rich corms. This study aims to characterize the nutritional and antioxidant potential of fifty-nine genotypes of taro to identify the most interesting chemotypes. The traits evaluated were: starch, proteins, soluble sugars, total phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity, assessed by Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and...

Author(s): Nicolas Ouédraogo, Pierre Alexandre Eric Djifaby Sombié, Renan Ernest Traoré, Hemayoro Sama, Pauline Bationo/Kando, Mahamadou Sawadogo and Vincent Lebot  

February 2023

Genetic bio-fortification of cereals from a plant breeding perspective

Genetic “biofortification” presents an opportunity to provide sustainable and cost effective solution to the perennial problem of ‘hidden hunger’ prevalent in most marginalized regions of the world. Diets in households across many developing countries typically consist of high calorie crops which are mostly cereals with limited diversified food. Production of cereal crops with elevated quantities...

Author(s): Tumbare Tererai and Maphosa Mcebisi