Abstract Moringa ( Moringa oleifera Lam.) is cultivated globally for leaf powder, fruit, seed oil and pharmaceuticals, yet germplasm characterization remains limited, constraining its use and improvement. We characterized 148 individuals from 32 families across seven countries/programmes in a two-season randomized complete block trial in Hawaii, USA, measuring 12 morphological, phenological and agronomic traits. Significant family-level variation (p < 0.05) was detected for nine traits. Genetic correlations between 1-year and 6-month post-coppice regrowth ranged from rg = 0.544 (leaf count) to rg = 0.776 (tree height), indicating trait-dependent rank stability; coppice shoot production was highly consistent between 1- and 6-month regrowth (rg = 0.896). Trait antagonisms between market classes were evident, with tree height positively correlated with leaf production ( r = 0.61) and flowering time negatively correlated with seed weight ( r = −0.41). Selection indices identified 80 individuals specialized for either leaf or fruit/seed markets, with none excelling in both, documenting complete market specialization not previously reported in moringa. These stable traits underpin principal markets, making this characterized, public-domain germplasm immediately valuable for market-targeted evaluation and breeding.
Abstract In the early 20th century, agricultural production was mostly focused on traditional, low-input systems where seed was actively selected by farmers and then frequently saved on-farm for sowing in subsequent seasons. More recently, the replacement of diverse landraces (LR) with fewer genetically homogeneous, commercially bred cultivars has led to considerable genetic erosion and loss of valuable plant genetic resources. Without appropriate in situ and ex situ conservation, it is inevitable that genetic erosion will continue at an undesirable rate until the loss of these unique resources. Earlier projects to document and inventory LR cultivation in the United Kingdom (UK) provide some insights but were incomplete, leaving research gaps that still need to be addressed. This research provides information on the current status of UK wheat LR diversity and identifies the significant challenges associated with cultivating LR on-farm. A total of 50 farmer interviews were conducted between January and June 2024. It was found that the number of wheat LR maintained on-farm, and the scale at which these varieties are grown, has increased since 2009. There are now 27 varieties maintained over 700 hectares. However, lack of market demand and seed availability have been shown to limit the conservation of these varieties, and therefore, strategies should be implemented to overcome some of the challenges associated with the cultivation of LR. Recommendations are put forward to encourage their continued growing on-farm, and to safeguard important plant genetic resources for future generations.
The study of genetic diversity is essential for understanding population structure and optimizing breeding programs. To support cowpea breeding efforts, we conducted a diversity study on a panel of 185 accessions, including 125 newly collected accessions from Niger and additional accessions provided by research institutions in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Niger. This study aimed to analyse cowpea population structure and genomic diversity and to provide a preliminary assessment of phenotypic variation across genomic clusters. Genotyping-by-sequencing generated 20,918 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which were used to assess population structure and genetic diversity. Population structure was inferred using a Bayesian approach (ADMIXTURE), and the resulting clustering pattern was corroborated by a multivariate method (DAPC). Seven genetic clusters were identified (A1-A7). Accessions from Niger were predominantly assigned to clusters A1, A2, A3 and A5; those from Senegal were mainly assigned to A4, whereas accessions from Nigeria were predominantly assigned to A7. Strong genetic differentiation was observed between accessions from Nigeria and those from Niger. The evaluation of phenological traits and yield components revealed marked differences among clusters. Most clusters showed low and multimodal grain and husk yield distributions, whereas cluster A5 consistently combined early maturity, high haulm yield and superior reproductive performance, highlighting its breeding potential. Overall, this study generated a large SNP marker dataset and provided integrated genomic and preliminary phenotypic information for a diverse cowpea germplasm panel. These resources will be useful for further studies of population genetics, breeding and association mapping in cowpea, an important legume crop for Sahelian countries.
Abstract This review synthesizes six decades of research on native Himalayan rice (NHR) (Oryza sativa) – encompassing cold-tolerant high-altitude landraces, drought-tolerant upland rice, Basmati, aromatic and glutinous varieties. The aims of the review were to assess NHR diversity and richness, analyze genetic erosion, evaluate their roles in farming systems and value chains, identify research gaps and explore opportunities for improvement and commercialization. We discuss genetic erosion, their adaptive traits and commercial potential. Drawing on three major national assessments (1970s, 1990s and 2015), a comparative analysis revealed an alarming rate of genetic erosion: in 2015, only 10% of those recorded in the 1990s were found, and only 6% of the landraces were reported in the 1970s. Over 93% of existing NHR landraces are classified as endangered or critically endangered, with relatively lower erosion among Basmati (73%) and speciality types (81%). Molecular studies indicated high genetic diversity determined by altitude, farming systems and culinary traditions. A few coarse-grained aerobic upland rice landraces were found to have aroma. Nepal’s speciality rice, cultivated under chemical-free management in ecologically pristine environments irrigated by Himalayan rivers and snow melt, possesses significant potential for domestic and export markets. However, inadequate nutritional profiling, absence of geographical indication frameworks, fragmented seed systems and weak value chains constrain commercialization. The review identifies priority areas for research, including targeted genomic mapping, rigorous nutritional profiling, true-to-type seed systems and strengthened value chains, all of which can contribute to conserving this important genetic resource through utilizing diversity in breeding and commercialization.
