ACNS-12: October-December 2007

Welcome to the ACNS-12. Kindly send your comments to: africancrops@wananchi.com. ACNS Team

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Maize Lines for Genetic Characterization (fingerprinting) Using Molecular Markers

CIMMYT and IITA are coordinating a submission of maize lines for genetic characterization (fingerprinting) using 1536 SNP molecular markers. DNA will be sent for characterization at the end of March 2008. All materials will be used for fingerprinting alone and all data treated confidentially. Breeders interested in getting their maize lines included in the group submission should contact Marilyn Warburton at CIMMYT (m.warburton@cgiar.org) and Sarah Hearne at IITA (s.hearne@cgiar.org) by December 21, 2007. 

Dissemination Opportunities through Africancrops.net

The website and its affiliates are set to offer value-added services in order to increase the exchange of information and technologies on improving African crops, seed systems and strengthening research and seed trade networks in Africa. The planned services and products include expanding the africancrops.net website, African Crops and Seed Systems Newsletter (ACNS) and launching new plant breeding and seed trade magazine - African Plant Breeding News (APBN). Scientific networks will be assisted to realize greater capacity to access, exchange and disseminate information. These activities will compliment the efforts of AGRA’s Program for Africa’s Seed Systems (PASS).  Contact the Africancrops.net Team on how you and your organization can be involved. Email: africancrops@wananchi.com or fill the Contact Webmaster form in www.africancrops.net website homepage.

The World Vegetable Center, AVRDC Jobs

AVRDC Seeks to recruit 4 vegetable breeders and 4 seed multiplication specialists to be posted in Mali (2), Cameroon (2), Madagascar (2) and Tanzania (2). For information on application requirements visit http://www.avrdc.org/jobs.html. Applications by 15 December 2007.

Maize Molecular Breeder Wanted

CIMMYT is seeking an outstanding candidate to drive its maize molecular breeding applications in Africa. Applications by 15 December 2007. Announcement

Reports  Back up

Genetic variation Analysis of Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L) Landraces Using Simple Sequence Repeats Molecular Markers

Tulole L. Bucheyeki, Cousins Gwanama, Mary Mgonja, Medson Chisi and Rolf Folkertsma. Tumbi Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Tanzania

The production and utilization of sorghum in Tanzania has been affected by low grain yield, Striga, birds and shoot fly, mosaic diseases and various social and economical factors.  In response, the Tanzania Sorghum Breeding program has introduced improved varieties that, however, have been found to be susceptible to both biotic and abiotic stresses as compared to the local landraces. Molecular marker characterization by using simple sequence repeats (SSR) study was conducted to determine the genetic relationships and establish the potential of landraces as sources of breeding material for future sorghum improvement.  Three DNA samples were extracted from forty-one sorghum landraces and 20 SSR markers used.  The results showed variations among and within clusters and there were no genotype specific makers with the exceptions of two, Ochuti and N13 controls.   The absence of genotype specific markers among landraces demonstrates the need to include more landraces from wide areas.  Full article.

Towards a Strategy to Combat Mealy Bug and Mosaic Disease in Cassava

Nagib Nassar, University of Brasilia

Scientists at the University of Brasilia report that a grafting technique used by cassava researchers and transferred to small farmers in Brazil can be applied in combating mealy bug and mosaic virus disease in Africa. Two wild species of cassava, M. glaziovii and M. dichotoma that grow in east and west Africa could be grafted to reproduce new material with characteristics close to the cultivated varieties and selections may produce new cultivars resistant to both mosaic virus disease and the mealy bug. Full article

Role of the Internet in Accelerating the African Green Revolution

Musa N. Omare, Catherine Were and Rose Njambi; FORMAT, Kenya

The Internet has risen to be one of the main platforms for information transfer worldwide with email dominating the exchange of information among various groups of people. Access to new technologies and the content of the information is pivotal in the positive transformation of agricultural sector in Africa. Efforts to realize a green revolution in Africa are long overdue and the internet stands to drive this initiative. A detailed examination of how this will happen is available through an article prepared by Musa Omare and colleagues. Read more.

 Announce  Back up

Maize Breeding in Africa. Statement of the Maize Breeders Network (MBNet) of Eastern & Southern Africa following a meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya during August 2007.

African Cassava Breeders Network Moves to Derail Spreading Epidemic of Devastating Crop Virus. A statement of the cassava breeders network following a meeting held in Zanzibar during October 2007. Full statement.

Crop Breeding and Training. AGRA Launches PhD Program for Crop Breeding in Africa  (AGRA)

Abstracts from ICV3 conference. The abstracts cover 8 themes on improving African crops, seed systems and capacity building.  Browse abstracts.

publications  Back up

Second issue of AfJARE journal. Download articles in Volume 1, No. 2 from the journal website, www.aaae-africa.org/afjare 

Journal Article: Gene action determining Phaeosphaeria leaf spot disease resistance in experimental maize hybrids by Derera et. al. (2007)

Journal Article Gene action controlling grain yield and secondary traits in southern African maize hybrids under drought and non-drought environments, Derera, J. et. al. (2007).

Journal of Applied Biosciences. This new Open Access peer reviewed journal is inviting manuscripts in biosciences research, particularly applied research cutting across Agriculture including crops and livestock, and other biosciences. Visit the journal website http://www.biosciences.elewa.org/ for more information.

 conferences  Back up

Molecular Marker Applications in Crop Genetics and Breeding – A Training Course offered by the Center of Excellence in Genomics at ICRISAT, http://www.icrisat.org/CEG/cegregistration2.htm

2008 International Banana Conference, 7-10 April, Mombasa, Kenya, visit www.banana2008.com

1st All Africa Congress on Biotechnology 2008, 22-26th September 2008. www.absfafrica.org

2008 Scientific Events. An extensive listing of upcoming conferences, meetings, workshops and trainings for 2008 is available at http://www.seedquest.com/Calendar/2008.htm.

resources Back up

FAO Research and Extension Portal. This Portal provides a gateway to sound information on research, technology, extension and their linkages in order to enable decision-makers, research institutes, extension services and regulatory bodies, to make informed decisions. Visit http://www.fao.org/sd/sdrr/portal/index_en.htm.

CGIAR Virtual Library: A New Online Resource for Agricultural Development Professionals. The CGIAR Virtual Library (CGVlibrary) is an internet gateway that allows agriculture and development specialists to search an interdisciplinary array of leading databases on agriculture, food policy, and the environment.  It enables users to retrieve thousands of full-text documents, abstracts, or references from the online libraries of the CGIAR research centers and over 160 other databases. Users can access more than 4,000 online journals without any registration or fees. Visit: http://vlibrary.cgiar.org.

funding  Back up

Call for applications IFS Research Grants. IFS calls for applications from young scientists in developing countries for research on the sustainable management, use or conservation of biological or water resources. Deadline is 31 December 2007. For more information visit IFS website http://www.ifs.se 

The Rockefeller Foundation Innovation Initiative. The Foundation’s Innovation Initiative aims to spur the development of innovations to help poor or vulnerable people around the world. The Initiative hopes to increase the number of solutions to development problems through two approaches. It will enhance the process of innovation by funding access of researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs working on development problems to proven innovation models and resources worldwide. More information is available at http://www.innocentive.com. 

The CGIAR Gender & Diversity Program is recruiting: Project manager; Communication Specialist and Mentoring and Training Specialist. Application deadline is 21 December 2007.

Acns11 Back up

We invite articles, announcements and other information for the next issue of ACNS that comes out in the January 2008. Read More about ACNS and access previous issues at http://www.africancrops.net/news. 

Lookout for the next issue of ACNS that will among others cover articles on

·          Biofuel and food insecurity

·          Cowpea improvement in Uganda

·          Newly released cassava in Kenya and Tanzania

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Contact Information

The Manager, Africancrops.net

C/o FORMAT, P.O. Box 79 Village Market 00621, Nairobi, Kenya

Email: africancrops@wananchi.com

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