Abstract Under-utilised orphan crops hold the key to diversified and climate-resilient food systems. Here, we report on crop genomics using case of Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet (lablab) - a legume native Africa cultivated throughout tropics for forage. Our Africa-led plant genome collaboration produces high-quality chromosome-scale assembly lablab genome. highlights organisation trypsin inhibitor genes an important anti-nutritional factor in lablab. We also re-sequence wild accessions from...

The oomycete Phytophthora infestans causes late blight of potato, which can completely destroy the crop. Therefore, for past 160 years, has been most important potato disease worldwide. identification cultivars with high and durable field resistance to P. is an objective breeding programs. This type polygenic therefore quantitative. Its evaluation requires multi-year location trials. Furthermore, quantitative correlates plant maturity, a negative agricultural trait. Knowledge molecular...

Napier grass is the most important perennial tropical native to Sub-Saharan Africa and widely grown in subtropical regions around world, primarily as a forage crop for animal feed, but with potential an energy wide range of other areas. Genomic resources have recently been developed that need be deployed genetic improvement molecular dissection agro-morphological feed quality traits. From diverse set genotypes assembled from two independent collections, subset 84 (although small population...

Resistance to pathogens is essential for survival of wild and cultivated plants. Pathogen susceptibility causes major losses crop yield quality. Durable field resistance combined with high other superior agronomic characters are therefore, important objectives in every breeding program. Precision efficacy can be enhanced by molecular diagnostic tools, which result from knowledge the basis susceptibility. Breeding uses conferred single R genes polygenic quantitative resistance. The latter...

Abstract Napier grass is an important tropical forage-grass and of growing potential as energy crop. One-hundred-five accessions, encompassing two independent collections, were subjected to genotyping by sequencing which generated a set high-density genome-wide markers together with short sequence reads. The reads, averaging 54 nucleotides, mapped the pearl millet genome closest genes annotation information used select candidate linked key forage traits. 980 highly polymorphic SNP markers,...

Abstract Napier grass (Cenchrus purpureus) is a C4 perennial species native to Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and widely used for feed cattle in the region. In this study, we sequenced genomes of 450 individuals from 18 countries, identifying over 170 million DNA variants (SNPs Indels). Approximately 1% these SNPs were informative assess genetic diversity within collection. Our resequencing study provided valuable insights into global grass. Additionally, genome-wide association on two independent...

The evaluation of forage crops for adaptability and performance across production systems environments is one the main strategies used to improve production. To enhance genetic resource base identify traits responsible increased feed potential Napier grass, forty-five genotypes from Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA), Brazil, were evaluated biomass yield nutritional quality in a replicated trial under wet dry season conditions Ethiopia. results revealed significant...

Late blight of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary, is one most important bottlenecks production worldwide. Cultivars with high levels durable, race unspecific, quantitative resistance are part a solution to this problem. However, breeding for hampered correlation between and late plant maturity, which an undesirable agricultural attribute. The objectives our research (i) identification genes that condition P. not compromised maturity...

In the semi-arid and arid environments of Sub-Sharan Africa, forage availability throughout year is insufficient highly limited during dry seasons due to precipitation. Thus, identification drought stress-tolerant cultivars one main activities in development programs. this study, Napier grass (Cenchrus purpureus), an important crop Eastern Central Africa that broadly adapted produce across tropical environments, was evaluated for its water use efficiency production performance under field...

The development of modern genomic tools has helped accelerate genetic gains in the breeding program food crops. More recently, resources have been developed for tropical forages, providing key developing new climate-resilient high-yielding forage varieties. In this study, we present a genome-wide association study biomass yield and feed quality traits buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L. aka Pennisetum ciliare L.). Genome-wide markers, generated using DArTSeq platform mapped onto Setaria...

At the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 171 germplasm accessions of Napier grass were studied using 20 SSR markers with objective assessing allelic richness and genetic diversity collections held at ILRI Brazilian Agricultural Corporation (EMBRAPA), to determine distinct be introduced enhance in each genebank collections. A total 148 alleles observed whole collection, which 140 93 EMBRAPA collections, respectively. Fifty-five 8 found unique...

Buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) is an important forage grass widely grown across the world with many good characteristics including high biomass yield, drought tolerance, and adaptability to a wide range of soil conditions agro-ecologies. Two hundred five buffelgrass accessions from diverse origins, conserved as part in-trust collection in ILRI genebank, were analyzed by genotyping-by-sequencing using DArTseq platform. The genotyping generated 234,581 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)...

Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth) is one of the most important forage grasses used throughout tropical and subtropical regions world. Enhancing conservation use genetic resources requires development knowledge understanding about existing global diversity species. In this study, 104 accessions, held in trust ILRI genebank, were characterized using DArTSeq markers to evaluate population structure, develop representative subsets, collection. The genotyping produced 193,988 SNP 142,522...

The production of traditional cool season grasses in temperate regions is becoming hampered during summer seasons due to water deficit. Thus, incorporating use efficient warm annual are generally considered fill the gap forage reduction that would offer considerable flexibility and adaptability respond demand. Teff (Eragrostis teff Zuccagni) Trotter) is, a C4 drought tolerant grass primarily grown for grain production, recently gaining interest particularly season. Previous reports have...

Abstract Orphan crops (also described as underutilised and neglected crops) hold the key to diversified climate-resilient food systems. After decades of neglect, genome sequencing orphan is gathering pace, providing foundations for their accelerated domestication improvement. Recent attention has however turned gross under-representation researchers in Africa efforts indigenous crops. Here we report a radically inclusive approach crop genomics using case Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet (syn....

Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. is a multipurpose legume tree grown primarily for fodder and forage in the tropical subtropical world. In this study, collection maintained International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Genebank was studied using genome-wide markers generated on DArTseq platform. Genotyping produced 84,673 60,626 SNP SilicoDArT with mean polymorphic information content of 0.153 0.123, respectively. From markers, 7587 15,031 highly informative respectively, were filtered used...

The evaluation of forage crops for adaptability and performance across production systems environments is one the main strategies used to improve production. To enhance genetic resource base identify traits responsible increased feed potential Napier grass, forty-five genotypes from EMBRAPA, Brazil, were evaluated biomass yield nutritional quality in a replicated trial under wet dry season conditions Ethiopia. results revealed significant variation qualities among between seasons. Feed fibre...

Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth) is one of the most important forage grasses used throughout tropical and subtropical regions world. Enhancing conservation use genetic resources requires development knowledge understanding about existing global diversity species. In this study, 104 accessions, held in trust ILRI genebank, were characterized using DArTSeq markers to evaluate population structure, develop representative subsets, collection. The genotyping produced 193,988 SNP 142,522...

Abstract Genetic diversity amongst genotypes of several Napier grass collections was analyzed and compared with the in a set open pollinated progeny plants. A total 114,881 SNP 46,293 SilicoDArT genome-wide markers were generated on 574 genotypes. Of these, 86% 66% mapped onto fourteen chromosomes genome. For genetic analysis, subset highly polymorphic informative filtered using genomic position information, maximum 10% missing values, minimum minor allele frequency 5%,...

Abstract Background In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) livestock production and productivity are severely restricted by the scarce supply of feedstuffs forage crops, while those available often low nutritional quality resulting in poor animal leading to widespread malnutrition among public, particularly women children. Traditionally, several tropical crops have been used region both rangelands as cut-and-carry cropping systems, but limited research attention has paid improve access these feeds....

The development of modern genomic tools has sped up the breeding program food crops. More recently, resources are being developed for tropical forages and will be key developing climate resilient high yielding forage varieties. In this study, we present a genome-wide association study biomass yield feed quality traits in buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L. aka Pennisetum ciliare L.,). Genome-wide markers generated using DArTSeq platform mapped onto reference genome Setaria italica were used...

Abstract Napier grass ( Cenchrus purpureus ) is a C 4 perennial species native to Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), primarily used feed cattle in SSA. In this study, we sequenced the genomes of 450 individuals, sourced from 20 different countries. More than 170 million DNA variants (SNPs and Indels) were detected, which ∼1% informative SNPs assess genetic diversity collection. Our resequencing study provided valuable insights into across global Furthermore, genome-wide association on two independent...

Lablab is one of the conventionally grown multi-purpose crops that originated in Africa. It an annual or short-lived perennial forage legume which has versatile uses (as a vegetable and dry seeds, as food feed, green manure) but yet to receive adequate research attention hence remains underexploited. To develop new highly productive lablab varieties, using genomics-assisted selection, present study aimed identify quantitative trait loci associated with agronomically important traits assess...