Molecular breeding (MB or Marker-assisted breeding, MAB) is a new concept born out of advances in genomics (all -omics, for that matte) technologies. The aim of MB is to use molecular markers associated with traits of economic importance to select desirable plants based on DNA assays. The benefit of indirect selection for complex and cumbersome traits have long been recognized. However, the concept could not be widely adopted until the advent and rapid advance of genomics technologies in the last couple of decades. Recently, there is a strong interest by donors, private sectors, and research organizations to utilize molecular markers to accelerate plant breeding programs, particularly those in developing countries.
For a link to a Learning Module on Marker Assisted Breeding (GCP), click here
By MELAKU GEDIL and ALIEU SARTIE
Agriculture: Africa’s “engine for growth” - Plant science and biotechnology hold the key"
Root and tuber crops are grown in different parts of the world for different reasons, but in Africa, cassava (Manihot esculenta) and yam (Dioscorea sps.) are grown as a main staple food for hundreds of millions of people. Widely cultivated in several African countries, cassava and yam provide food security and income generation for millions of small-holding farmers.
With respect to breeding for improved varieties, cassava and yam face similar challenges: 1) The genetics of the crops are poorly understood; 2) Due to lengthy growing season/generation time, the Manihot esculenta) and yam (Dioscorea sps.) are grown as a main staple food for hundreds breeding cycle is considerably long; 3) Shy flowering or incompatibility hampers hybridization to develop breeding population; 4) High level of heterozygosity caused by allogamy; 5) Vegetative propagation results in low multiplication ratio of plant propagules; 6) Paucity of genomic resources; 7) Inadequate critical mass of researchers and lack of international collaboration; 8) Absence of research activity by the private sector; 9) High genotype by environment interaction requires breeding for specific agroecology zones; 10) Cultivated by resource-limited small scale farmers with a resultant low productivity or large yield gap; 11) Limited diversity as both cassava and most yam species are not native to Africa; 12) High magnitude of postharvest losses due to bulkiness and perishability.
Enhancing agricultural productivity in Africa is a daunting task entailing a multifaceted approach combining conventional and new technological advances. The genomic boom in the past few decades has opened a new avenue of research for agricultural scientists. Conventional breeding has been augmented by various innovative molecular-marker aided techniques. A wide array of genomic milestones in the past decades has triggered the development and deployment of innovative techniques (e.g. chip based assays, tilling, high throughput genotyping). As the genomic revolution continues to generate large amount of data, a variety of methods of reverse and forward genetics are being developed to aid in efficient and effective plant breeding.
to be posted soon....
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