Genetic diversity and structure of baobab (<i>Adansonia digitata</i>L.) in southeastern Kenya

Chládová, Anna; Kalousová, Marie; Mandák, Bohumil; Kehlenbeck, Katja; Prinz, Kathleen; Šmíd, Jan; Damme, Patrick Van; Lojka, Bohdan

doi:10.1098/rsos.190854

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…The other three studies used microsatellites to assess genetic diversity, the first in seven coastal and inland Kenyan populations [68], the second in populations of the Nuba Mountains of Sudan [69] and the third in Malawi [67]. All these genetic studies also found high morphological diversity in fruits and/or leaves.…”

Section: Genetic Variationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Future of Food: Domestication and Commercialization of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa over the Third Decade (2012–2021)

Leakey¹,

Avana

Awazi

et al. 2022

Sustainability

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This paper follows the transition from ethnobotany to a deeper scientific understanding of the food and medicinal properties of African agroforestry tree products as inputs into the start of domestication activities. It progresses on to the integration of these indigenous trees as new crops within diversified farming systems for multiple social, economic and environmental benefits. From its advent in the 1990s, the domestication of indigenous food and non-food tree species has become a global programme with a strong African focus. This review of progress in the third decade is restricted to progress in Africa, where multi-disciplinary research on over 59 species has been reported in 759 research papers in 318 science publications by scientists from over 833 research teams in 70 countries around the world (532 in Africa). The review spans 23 research topics presenting the recent research literature for tree species of high priority across the continent, as well as that in each of the four main ecological regions: the humid zone of West and Central Africa; the Sahel and North Africa; the East African highlands and drylands; and the woody savannas of Southern Africa. The main areas of growth have been the nutritional/medicinal value of non-timber forest products; the evaluation of the state of natural resources and their importance to local people; and the characterization of useful traits. However, the testing of putative cultivars; the implementation of participatory principles; the protection of traditional knowledge and intellectual property rights; and the selection of elite trees and ideotypes remain under-researched. To the probable detriment of the upscaling and impact in tropical agriculture, there has been, at the international level, a move away from decentralized, community-based tree domestication towards a laboratory-based, centralized approach. However, the rapid uptake of research by university departments and national agricultural research centres in Africa indicates a recognition of the importance of the indigenous crops for both the livelihoods of rural communities and the revitalization and enhanced outputs from agriculture in Africa, especially in West Africa. Thus, on a continental scale, there has been an uptake of research with policy relevance for the integration of indigenous trees in agroecosystems and their importance for the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. To progress this in the fourth decade, there will need to be a dedicated Centre in Africa to test and develop cultivars of indigenous crops. Finally, this review underpins a holistic approach to mitigating climate change, as well as other big global issues such as hunger, poverty and loss of wildlife habitat by reaping the benefits, or ‘profits’, from investment in the five forms of Capital, described as ‘land maxing’. However, policy and decision makers are not yet recognizing the potential for holistic and transformational adoption of these new indigenous food crop opportunities for African agriculture. Is ‘political will’ the missing sixth capital for sustainable development?

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Section: Genetic Variationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Future of Food: Domestication and Commercialization of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa over the Third Decade (2012–2021)

Leakey¹,

Avana

Awazi

et al. 2022

Sustainability

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“…It is a very important tree with multiple benefits and is a source of traditional food in Saharan countries [ 433 ]. Additionally, it is also a source of medicine, fiber and income for rural communities [ 434 , 435 ]. Almost all its parts can be consumed and it contains high vitamin C content as compared to oranges [ 434 ].…”

Section: Examples Of Application Of Multi-omics Tools To Traditional Food Plantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Almost all its parts can be consumed and it contains high vitamin C content as compared to oranges [ 434 ]. Using microsatellite loci, Chládová et al [ 435 ] suggested huge genetic diversity among its populations. However, further research is needed to understand the genetic basis of the higher accumulation of vitamin C and other important compounds that make it a wonder tree.…”

Section: Examples Of Application Of Multi-omics Tools To Traditional Food Plantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating Omics and Gene Editing Tools for Rapid Improvement of Traditional Food Plants for Diversified and Sustainable Food Security

Kumar

Anju

Kumar³

et al. 2021

IJMS

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Indigenous communities across the globe, especially in rural areas, consume locally available plants known as Traditional Food Plants (TFPs) for their nutritional and health-related needs. Recent research shows that many TFPs are highly nutritious as they contain health beneficial metabolites, vitamins, mineral elements and other nutrients. Excessive reliance on the mainstream staple crops has its own disadvantages. Traditional food plants are nowadays considered important crops of the future and can act as supplementary foods for the burgeoning global population. They can also act as emergency foods in situations such as COVID-19 and in times of other pandemics. The current situation necessitates locally available alternative nutritious TFPs for sustainable food production. To increase the cultivation or improve the traits in TFPs, it is essential to understand the molecular basis of the genes that regulate some important traits such as nutritional components and resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. The integrated use of modern omics and gene editing technologies provide great opportunities to better understand the genetic and molecular basis of superior nutrient content, climate-resilient traits and adaptation to local agroclimatic zones. Recently, realizing the importance and benefits of TFPs, scientists have shown interest in the prospection and sequencing of TFPs for their improvements, cultivation and mainstreaming. Integrated omics such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and ionomics are successfully used in plants and have provided a comprehensive understanding of gene-protein-metabolite networks. Combined use of omics and editing tools has led to successful editing of beneficial traits in several TFPs. This suggests that there is ample scope for improvement of TFPs for sustainable food production. In this article, we highlight the importance, scope and progress towards improvement of TFPs for valuable traits by integrated use of omics and gene editing techniques.

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“…It is a very important tree with multiple benefits including a source of traditional food in the Saharan countries [206]. Additionally, it is also a source of medicine, fibre and incomes for the rural communities [207,208]. Almost all its parts can be consumed and it contains high vitamin C content as compared to oranges [207].…”

Section: Transcriptional Basis Of Lipid Biosynthesis In Chia a Wonder Seed For The 21st Centurymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Almost all its parts can be consumed and it contains high vitamin C content as compared to oranges [207]. Using microsatellite loci, Chládová et al [208] have suggested a huge genetic diversity among its populations. However, further research is needed to understand the genetic basis of the higher accumulation of the vitamin C and other important compounds that make it a wonder tree.…”

Section: Transcriptional Basis Of Lipid Biosynthesis In Chia a Wonder Seed For The 21st Centurymentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking Omics and Gene Editing Tools for Rapid Improvement of Traditional Food Plants for Diversified Foods and Sustainable Food Security

Kumar¹,

Anju²,

Kumar³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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The indigenous communities across the globe especially in the rural areas consume locally available plants known as Traditional Food Plants (TFPs) for their nutritional and health-related needs. Recent research shows that many of the traditional food plants are highly nutritious as they contain health beneficial metabolites, vitamins, mineral elements and other nutrients. Excessive reliance on the mainstream staple crops has its own disadvantages. TFPs are nowadays considered important crops of the future and can act as supplementary foods for the burgeoning global population. They can also act as emergency foods in times of pandemics and other situations like COVID-19. The current situation necessitates locally available alternative nutritious TFPs for sustainable food production. To increase the cultivation or improve the traits in TFPs, it is essential to understand the molecular basis of the genes that regulate some important traits such as nutritional components and resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. The integrated use of modern omics and gene editing technologies provide great opportunities to better understand the genetic and molecular basis of superior nutrient content, climate-resilient traits and adaptation to local agroclimatic zones. Recently, realising the importance and benefits of TFPs, scientists have shown interest in the prospection and sequencing of traditional food plants for their improvements, further cultivation and mainstreaming. Integrated omics such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and ionomics are successfully used in plants and have provided a comprehensive understanding of gene-protein-metabolite networks. Combined use of omics and editing tools has led to successful editing of beneficial traits in few TFPs. This suggests that there is ample scope of integrated use of modern omics and editing tools/techniques for improvement of TFPs and their use for sustainable food production. In this article, we highlight the importance, scope and progress towards improvement of TFPs for valuable traits by integrated use of omics and gene editing techniques.

show abstract

Genetic diversity and structure of baobab (Adansonia digitataL.) in southeastern Kenya

Cited by 9 publications

References 43 publications

The Future of Food: Domestication and Commercialization of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa over the Third Decade (2012–2021)

The Future of Food: Domestication and Commercialization of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa over the Third Decade (2012–2021)

Integrating Omics and Gene Editing Tools for Rapid Improvement of Traditional Food Plants for Diversified and Sustainable Food Security

Linking Omics and Gene Editing Tools for Rapid Improvement of Traditional Food Plants for Diversified Foods and Sustainable Food Security

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