Breeding Elite Cowpea [<i>Vigna unguiculata</i>(L.) Walp] Varieties for Improved Food Security and Income in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges

Gomes, Ana Maria; Nhantumbo, Nascimento; Ferreira-Pinto, Manuela; Massinga, Rafael A.; Ramalho, José C.; Ribeiro‐Barros, Ana I.

doi:10.5772/intechopen.84985

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 66 publications

(75 reference statements)

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“…The rise of the drought was further aided by the amalgamation of high temperatures and low precipitation (Yu et al, 2013). Global food security is facing a challenge from climate change which pollutes water resources and declining crop production (Hedhly et al, 2009;Gomes et al, 2019). Water shortages would impact agricultural land by up to 50% by 2050 (Hasanuzzaman et al, 2019).…”

Section: Sa and Drought Stressmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uncovering the mechanisms of salicylic acid-mediated abiotic stress tolerance in horticultural crops

Yang,

Fang,

Luo

et al. 2023

Front. Plant Sci.

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Salicylic acid (SA) has been recognized as a promising molecule for improving abiotic stress tolerance in plants due to its ability to enhance antioxidant defense system, and promote root architecture system. Recent research has focused on uncovering the mechanisms by which SA confers abiotic stress tolerance in horticultural crops. SA has been shown to act as a signaling molecule that triggers various physiological and morphological responses in plants. SA regulates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, it can also act as signaling molecule that regulate the expression of stress-responsive genes. SA can directly interact with various hormones, proteins and enzymes involved in abiotic stress tolerance. SA regulates the antioxidant enzymes activities that scavenge toxic ROS, thereby reducing oxidative damage in plants. SA can also activate protein kinases that phosphorylate and activate transcription factors involved in stress responses. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for developing effective strategies to improve crop resilience in the face of changing environmental conditions. Current information provides valuable insights for farmers and plant researchers, offering new strategies to enhance crop resilience and productivity in the face of environmental challenges. By harnessing the power of SA and its signaling pathways, farmers can develop more effective stress management techniques and optimize crop performance. Plant researchers can also explore innovative approaches to breed or engineer crops with enhanced stress tolerance, thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture and food security.

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Section: Sa and Drought Stressmentioning

confidence: 99%

Uncovering the mechanisms of salicylic acid-mediated abiotic stress tolerance in horticultural crops

Yang,

Fang,

Luo

et al. 2023

Front. Plant Sci.

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“…2015), insects (Oliveira et al . 2017), viral diseases (Gomes et al . 2019), fungal diseases (Horn and Shimelis 2020) and aphids (Mofokeng and Gerrano 2021).…”

Section: Biotic Constraints To Cowpea Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenotypic, genotypic and nutritional divergence in cowpea and implications for drought tolerance breeding: a review

Masemola

Gerrano

Labuschagne

et al. 2023

Crop & Pasture Science

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Genetic diversity is crucial for crop improvement in any breeding program. Cowpea is an important indigenous grain vegetable legume crop. The crop has a significant potential to improve food and nutritional security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and family income for resource poor famers. Cowpea is a source of proteins, vitamins (folate, thiamine and vitamin C), minerals (Fe, Zn, Mn and Ca) and amino acids such as lysine and tryptophan, hence, has a high potential for combating nutrient deficiencies. The SSA countries, including South Africa, have been experiencing many dry seasons, which have negatively affected agricultural production and productivity. Cowpea has a long taproot with the ability to grow in arid and semi-arid regions; however, lasting exposure to severe droughts will result in significant yield and grain quality reduction. There has been limited progress in drought tolerance research in cowpea due to the complexity of this trait, as it involves numerous genes, which in turn are affected by environmental conditions. It is therefore important to review research done on the nutritional, phenotypic and genotypic diversity of cowpea and the importance of diversity when breeding for complex quantitative traits such as drought tolerance and yield. The review will also outline the important omics tools used for drought tolerance breeding, cultivar development and as reference for future cowpea breeding.

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“…At the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), there have been tremendous efforts to enhance cowpea productivity through the development of improved lines. These efforts have resulted in releases of 80 IITA supported improved cowpea varieties between 1970 and 2018 in SSA (Maria Figueira Gomes et al., 2019). These varieties are characterized by drought and heat tolerance (Agbicodo et al., 2009; C. A. Fatokun et al., 2012; Hall, 2004; Muchero et al., 2013), striga resistance (Boukar et al., 2018; Omoigui et al., 2010; Omoigui, Kamara, et al., 2017; B.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic progress in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] stemming from breeding modernization efforts at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

Ongom,

Fatokun,

Togola

et al. 2024

The Plant Genome

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Genetic gain has been proposed as a quantifiable key performance indicator that can be used to monitor breeding programs’ effectiveness. The cowpea breeding program at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has developed and released improved varieties in 70 countries globally. To quantify the genetic changes to grain yield and related traits, we exploited IITA cowpea historical multi‐environment trials (METs) advanced yield trial (AYT) data from 2010 to 2022. The genetic gain assessment targeted short duration (SD), medium duration (MD), and late duration (LD) breeding pipelines. A linear mixed model was used to calculate the best linear unbiased estimates (BLUE). Regressed BLUE of grain yield by year of genotype origin depicted realized genetic gain of 22.75 kg/ha/year (2.65%), 7.91 kg/ha/year (0.85%), and 22.82 kg/ha/year (2.51%) for SD, MD, and LD, respectively. No significant gain was realized in 100‐seed weight (Hsdwt). We predicted, based on 2022 MET data, that recycling the best genotypes at AYT stage would result in grain yield gain of 37.28 kg/ha/year (SD), 28.00 kg/ha/year (MD), and 34.85 kg/ha/year (LD), and Hsdwt gain of 0.48 g/year (SD), 0.68 g/year (MD), and 0.55 g/year (LD). These results demonstrated a positive genetic gain trend for cowpea, indicating that a yield plateau has not yet been reached and that accelerated gain is expected with the recent integration of genomics in the breeding program. Advances in genomics include the development of the reference genome, genotyping platforms, quantitative trait loci mapping of key traits, and active implementation of molecular breeding.

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Breeding Elite Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata(L.) Walp] Varieties for Improved Food Security and Income in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges

Cited by 12 publications

References 66 publications

Uncovering the mechanisms of salicylic acid-mediated abiotic stress tolerance in horticultural crops

Uncovering the mechanisms of salicylic acid-mediated abiotic stress tolerance in horticultural crops

Phenotypic, genotypic and nutritional divergence in cowpea and implications for drought tolerance breeding: a review

Genetic progress in cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] stemming from breeding modernization efforts at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

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