With the ever-growing population size, food and nutrition insecurity has become one of the biggest challenges in sub-Saharan Africa while the continent is endowed with a rich agricultural diversity that can be valued to overcome hunger and poverty. Unfortunately, the region is critically short in plant breeders capable to develop cultivars and stimulate seed systems that meet communities’ needs in the face of climate change. MoBreed (Mobility for Breeders in Africa), a consortium of five African universities together with one European technical partner, intends to:
I am Josephine Tafadzwa Pasipanodya, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Namibia. I am a Zimbabwean national, and a recipient of the MoBreed scholarship which I applied for and was fortunately awarded in 2017.
After a transparent selection process, the MoBreed program selection committee has decided on successful applications of the fourth call launched in September 2019. See below:
Jelila S. Blalogoe 12, Alfred O. Odindo3, E. O. Dêêdi Sogbohossou1,4, Julia Sibiya2 and Enoch G. Achigan-Dako1*Origin-dependence of variation in seed morphology, mineral composition and germination percentage in Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq. accessions from Africa and Asia https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-020-02364-w.
Coulibaly, M., Agossou, C.O.A., Akohoué, F., Sawadogo, M. and Achigan-Dako, E.G. (2020). Farmers’ Preferences for Genetic Resources of Kersting’s Groundnut [Macrotyloma geocarpum (Harms) Maréchal and Baudet] in the Production Systems of Burkina Faso and Ghana. Agronomy 10: 3. 1-20. doi:10.3390/agronomy10030371.
Chataika, B.; Akundabweni, L.; Achigan-Dako, E.G.; Sibiya, J.; Kwapata, K.; Thomas, B. Diversity and Domestication Status of Spider Plant (Gynandropsis gynandra, L.) amongst Sociolinguistic Groups of Northern Namibia. Agronomy 2020, 10, 56.
Akohoue, F., Achigan-Dako, E.G., Coulibaly, M., Sibiya J (2019) Correlations, path coefficient analysis and phenotypic diversity of a West African germplasm of Kersting’s groundnut [Macrotyloma geocarpum (Harms) Maréchal & Baudet]. Genet Resour Crop Evol 66: 1825. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-019-00839-w
Tchokponhoué, D.A., S. N’Danikou and E.G. Achigan-Dako. 2019. A combination of approaches evidenced seed storage behaviour in the miracle berry Synsepalum dulcificum (Schumach. & Thonn.) Daniell. BMC Plant Biology 19: 117.
Zohoungbogbo H. P. F., Houdegbe C. A., Sogbohossou O. E. D., Tossou M. G., Maundu, P., Schranz, M. E., Van Deynze A., Zoundjihekpon J., Achigan-Dako E. G. 2018. Andromonoecy in Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq. (Cleomaceae) and effects on fruit and seed production. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 65(8): 2231–2239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-018-0687-5.
Houdegbe C. A., Sogbohossou O. E. D., Achigan- Dako E. G. 2018. Enhancing growth and leaf yield in Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq. (Cleomaceae) using agronomic practices to accelerate crop domestication. Scientia Horticulturae. 233:90-98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2018.01.035.
Tchokponhoué, D., E. Achigan-Dako, S. N’Danikou, A. Houdégbé, C. Agossou, F. Assogba-Komlan, et al. 2018. Regeneration ability and seedling growth in the miracle plant Synsepalum dulcificum (Schumach. & Thonn.) Daniell. Fruits 73: 13-21.
