Training in conservation and utilization of vegetable genetic resources: GBioS researchers equipped with new knowledge

As part of the Taiwan African Vegetable Initiative (TAVI) project, a delegation led by Professor Enoch Achigan-Dako represented the Genetics, Biotechnology and Seed Science Laboratory at a training session in Arusha, Tanzania .

This training, held at the World Vegetable Center Eastern and Southern Africa, focused on conservation and utilization of vegetable genetic resources, with emphasis on germplasm regeneration, phenotyping and genotyping.
Participants were researchers and students from different countries including Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Netherlands, Nigeria, Scotland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Several presentations were made during the week-long training to better equip participants with theoretical and practical knowledge on germplasm regeneration, genebank, landscape, and conservation genomics. Topics included African vegetable crops, presented by Dr. Ndanikou Sognigbé; good practices in germplasm regeneration, presented by Dr. Maarten van Zonneveld; genetic erosion in regeneration, presented by Prof. Svein Øivind Solberg, and conservation genomics presented by Prof. Enoch Achigan Dako, among others.

The participants also had the opportunity to participate in practical sessions allowing them to define actions to improve the conservation of plant genetic resources and the use of specific crops. As leader of the Amaranth group, Rabiath ADIGOUN from GBioS presented a strong action plan on how to apply the knowledge to improve conservation and utilization of amaths crops and wild relatives.
Ideas include but are not limited to:
– bagging of inflorescences during regeneration can be applied to reduce cross-pollination during seed regeneration to maintain the genetic integrity of accessions in the collections;
– viability and germination tests will be used to monitor the quality of seed stored in the genebanks;
– dormancy breaking techniques can be used to improve seed germination;
– timely harvesting can provide good quality seed during regeneration.

This training marks another step in the progress of the TAVI project to address issues of plant genetic resources conservation, and as a major stakeholder, GBioS laboratory remains fully committed to supporting this dynamic.

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