Issue 10, March 2013

28 March 201410 January 2014 by klopez

Breakthroughs in maize breeding/
Extra early white maize hybrids
Ensuring the safety of African crops

Promoting drought tolerant maize
Saving maize from Striga
Developing aflasafeTM

Drought tolerant maize for Mali/
Ecofriendly bioherbicide

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Features

Yam genetic resources conserved at IITA

IITA’s Genetic Resources Center holds the largest yam international germplasm collection in trust, with 3,872 accessions, including nine of the major cultivated species. It represents a large genepool for yam crop improvement to help the crop reach its full potential for food and income for poor farmers.

Best Practice

Best practices for maize production in the West African savannas

Appropriate soil fertility management, drought adaptation, and proper weed management can help to close the yield gap for maize in the West African savannas.

Tool Box

Bioreactors for the rapid mass micropropagation of yam

Another novel technology being used for seed yam propagation is the temporary immersion bioreactor system (TIBS), which involves the timed immersion of plant tissues in a liquid medium to allow for the aeration of cultures.

Who’s who

Dave Watson: Steering the MAIZE CGIAR Research Program

Dr Dave Watson, the Program Director of the CGIAR Research Program on Maize, talks about challenges and opportunities that the program faces.

Looking In

Prof Felix Nweke: Staying true to the course

Prof Felix Nweke, a former IITA scientist who has worked on both cassava and yam, talks about his life as a scientist and the impact of IITA’s work on roots and tubers on the African farmers.

Frontiers

Embryo rescue and anther culture for breeding new yam varieties

IITA is breeding new varieties of yam based on demand and value addition. This is done by crossing two parents of the same species or different species to transfer useful traits.