The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a nonprofit organisation that works with partners to enhance crop quality and productivity, reduce producer and consumer risks, and generate wealth from agriculture, with the ultimate goals of reducing hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. IITA's research-for-development (R4D) focuses on addressing the development needs of tropical countries. The institute was established in 1967 and headquarters located in Ibadan, Nigeria, with several research stations spread across Africa. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees, supported by several countries and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)..
This study investigated perceptions of climate change among residents of 12 villages in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, South Africa, through household surveys and focus group discussions. These perceptions were compared with climatic trends derived from Skukuza meteorological station data (1981–2023), focusing on summer seasonal temperature and rainfall patterns. The analysis of meteorological station data revealed significant increases in seasonal maximum temperatures, a marked decline in the number of wet days, and high interannual variability in total seasonal rainfall. While local perceptions aligned with recorded trends of rising temperatures, delayed onset of the rainy season, and more erratic rainfall patterns, discrepancies emerged regarding total rainfall amounts; participants perceived an overall decline, whereas meteorological data showed no statistically significant long-term trend in seasonal rainfall totals. These findings highlight the value of integrating local knowledge into climate change research. Local perceptions provide critical insights into micro-level climate impacts, such as changes in rainfall frequency and intensity, that may not be evident in observational data. Combining these perspectives with scientific measurements can enhance the design of culturally relevant and effective climate adaptation strategies. This approach fosters stronger community engagement and ensures that policies address both the observed and perceived impacts of climate change, thereby supporting more sustainable and inclusive responses at local and national scales.
Yam (Dioscorea rotundata) genotypes respond differently to multiple environments. Selecting the stable ones without compromising key traits is pivotal in breeding programmes. The present study evaluated a panel of 40 advanced yam genotypes (5 landraces and 35 improved varieties) from different sources for yield performance and stability as well as desirable food properties. Field trials were established following a randomized complete block design at four locations over three years in Benin. Data were collected on fresh tuber weight, dry matter and sensory attributes such as the quality of boiled and pounded yams. The overall mean yield per plant varied from 2.32 to 4.42 kg with OP1832 and Katala having the lowest and highest mean productivity, respectively. Highly significant (P < 0.001) variations among genotype (G), environment (E) and GxE were noted for yield. The additive main and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) stability value identified Kpouna as the most stable genotype while OP1811 exhibited the greatest instability. A genotype selection Index (GSI) which merged both stability and yield ranked Kpouna, OP20 and OP78 as the top three yam genotypes. Genotypes combining both high yield and good food quality attributes were identified through the multi-trait genotype ideotype distance index which enabled the selection of the top six genotypes as per experimental site. Depending on the location, superior yam genotypes to be considered for release to farmers are kpouna, Katala, TDr1430007, Taatimanin, TDr8902665, OP2055, OP1416, OP416, OP255, and Amoula. This study underscores the value of both landraces and newly improved white Guinea yam varieties in improving key traits in breeding programs to better meet the needs of farmers, processors, and consumers.
Food insecurity is strongly influenced by post-harvest management constraints, particularly those limiting seed storability. This study evaluated the combined effects of packaging materials and storage temperatures on the conservation of soybean seed from five genotypes over 12 months. Two cold storage conditions (fridge at 3–5 °C and deep freezer at − 18 to − 14 °C) and three packaging materials (polypropylene bags, polyethylene bags, and paper envelopes) were tested under room storage. After six months, germination under room conditions declined to 62.3
Climate change is projected to exacerbate food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by reducing crop yields and soil fertility. Many climate change impact studies in SSA have overlooked long-term effects of soil fertility on crop yield. We evaluated maize yields under different scenarios of soil fertility (using soil organic carbon as a proxy) and climate change (considering changes in temperature, rainfall, and CO2) at four sites in SSA. Using an ensemble of 15 calibrated soil-crop models, we found a strong consensus that, without fertilization, soil fertility declines over time, impacting maize yields more strongly than changes in temperature, rainfall, or CO2. The model ensemble indicated that when accounting for soil fertility changes, the yield benefits of combined application of organic and mineral inputs increase over time, even under climate change. These findings highlight the importance of considering long-term change in soil fertility when assessing impacts of climate change and integrated nutrient management on crop production in SSA.
Understanding the genetic diversity and population structure of maize inbred lines is fundamental for effective hybrid development and strategic heterosis exploitation. The objective of this study was to refine and validate heterotic groups within a diverse collection of extra-early and early maturing tropical yellow and orange maize inbred lines. A total of 1,437 elite tropical yellow and orange maize inbred lines spanning early and extra-early maturing groups were genotyped using a panel of 3,305 DArTag SNP markers. In addition, the study evaluated 280 hybrids comprising 276 hybrids (from 214 inbred lines crossed with four standard testers) and four commercial checks. The yield performance trials used a 14 × 20 alpha-lattice design with two replicates over two years. Marker-based diversity analysis revealed average marker polymorphism of 0.328, minor allele frequency of 0.265, and expected heterozygosity of 0.315. Principal component analysis (PCA), discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC), and ancestral admixture analysis revealed three genetic clusters, while phylogenetic analysis supported the existence of two major clusters with groups one and three from DAPC and admixture methods combined into a single phylogenetic group. Several sub-groups were identified within the main genetic pools and maturity rather than kernel color was the major driver of these sub-groups. For operational ease in breeding applications, the lines were assigned to two major heterotic groups. The average performance of the hybrid for grain yield and heterosis estimates from between maturity-based heterotic subgroups were consistently and significantly (p < 0.001) higher than those from within maturity-based heterotic subgroups. These results provide a robust framework for parental line selection, heterotic grouping, and hybrid breeding strategies, facilitating the development of extra-early and early superior yellow/orange maize hybrids adapted to tropical environments.
