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Aims: Senna obtusifolia (L.) is an important wild herbaceous species for subsaharan Africa population. It is used in human food and traditional medicine to treat several deseases. In Burkina Faso, despite its potentialities, this species is of a little interest in scientific research. The aim of this study is to provide a good knowledge of the genetic diversity of this species. Study Design: The experimental design used was a randomized Fischer block type with three replications. Place and Duration of the Study: The study was carried out at Gampéla during 2018 rainy season. Methodology: Seventy (70) accessions of Senna obtusifolia were used for the evaluation of agromorphological variability. A total of twenty-seven (27) quantitative traits were studied. Results: The study revealed the existence of a great variability within the studied collection. Among the twenty-one (21) traits used for the analysis of variance (ANOVA), seventeen (17) variables significantly discriminate the accessions. A high heterogeneity was observed for the number of leaflets of the three first leaves and the number of floral pieces. In addition, significant correlations were observed between several variables. Indeed, the number of primary branches was positively correlated with the number of fruits per plant (r = 0.483), the number of grains per plant (r = 0.352) and the leaves biomass (r = 0.279). However, the number of days at flowering (NJF) is negatively correlated with the number of primary branches (r = -0.281). The variability obtained was structured in three groups. The third group is composed of accessions with the best agronomic performance that could be used in future breeding program. Conclusion: A high agromorphological diversity of Senna obtusifolia was observed and could be used in a breeding program.

In Burkina Faso, sweet grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.

Sweet grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is an under-harvested crop produced mainly for its sweet grains in the pasty stage. Little is known of its genetic diversity remains. This study aims to determine the level and structure of the genetic diversity of sweet grain sorghum from Burkina Faso. Thus, 93 accessions were evaluated using 15 polymorphic microsatellite markers. The analysis revealed 49 alleles in total, 6 rare alleles, an average of 3 alleles per locus, a moderate Nei diversity of 0.474, a low level of heterozygosity (0.031) in the collection and very high Wright's fixation index (Fis) of 0.934. The accessions were organized into three genetic groups: A, B and C. Groups A and B were the farthest, with an Fst and a genetic distance of 0.37 and 0.22, respectively, whereas Groups B and C were the closest, with an Fst (genetic differentiation) of 0.279 and a genetic distance of 0.142. This diversity could be exploited in Burkina Faso sweet grain sorghum breeding programs.

Rice is the second most important cereal in West Africa and is an essential element in the diet of the population. However, iron toxicity is one of the major edaphic constraints in lowland rice cultivation. The large amount of ferrous ions in solution causes an imbalance in nutrients involving a nutritional disorder affecting the growth of crops including rice. The present study conducted in 2014 in Guinea Conakry in the lowlands of the Kilissi Agronomic Research Station aimed to evaluate the effect of silica on reducing of the effect of iron toxicity in rice. Thus, rice varieties were evaluated according to a split plot device with three (3) randomized replications for two factors (rice varieties and silica doses) and three (3) silica treatments (D0 g, D120 g and D240 g). The results showed a significant effect of silica on most agronomic parameters of the rice varieties tested. The D240 g dose gave the

Cowpea is a dual-purpose protein crop which has a high nutritional value. However, many problems such as cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus limit its production. This study aimed at assessing the resistance of varieties of cowpea to cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV). Thus, a complete diallel cross between five cowpea varieties was done in a partially balanced incomplete block plan (alpha design) with three replications. The F 1 descendants obtained and their parents were evaluated using five characters. Results obtained reveal that all characters discriminate the parents and F 1 descendants. All five parents tested revealed their resistance or susceptibility status to CABMV. The F 1 descendants from the cross between local Gorom x KVx640, KVx30-309-6G x KVx396-4-5-2D, KVx61-1 x KVx640, KVx640 x local Gorom and KVx640 x KVx61-1 which have shown a low severity value and a high weight of one hundred seeds are the best. They could be used in Burkina Faso' cowpea breeding program to develop resistant varieties to cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus.

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Jatropha curcas L. is a perennial oleaginous plant commonly used in tropical areas as a medicinal plant in the construction of defensive hedges against animals, and in the fight against water erosion. It produces oil which can be used as agrofuel or soap-making. Despite its potential, the species remain under-exploited and its genetic diversity is still not very well-known