What’s the connection? Leena Tripathi explains how IITA and partners are producing banana cultivars that are resistant to destructive nematodes and other pests.

Plants can be designed to order, like clothes. This article briefly outlines the progress of a collaborative research effort on “designing” pest-resistant cowpeas.

IITA Biotechnology Lab Head Ivan Ingelbrecht describes the state of genetic transformation on cassava, and presents some of the enabling tools for biotechnology-mediated improvement, and other complementary approaches, such as conventional breeding and use of artificial mini-chromosomes.

Molecular geneticist Melaku Gedil discusses some of the genetic
engineering tools that IITA uses for improving its mandate crops.

IITA and partners developed a tuber-less yam propagation technique using vine cuttings, making more yam available for food or for sale.

IITA launches a USAID-funded project called “Unleashing the Power of Cassava in response to the food price crisis (UPoCA)” to further increase cassava production in farmers’ fields by 30% in seven sub-Saharan African countries.

IITA established an East and Southern African hub in Tanzania this year. Director Steffen Abele said the hub will give priority attention to research in banana, plantain, and cassava, and provide better services to scientists in those two regions.

Guest contributor Glenn Gregorio of IRRI suggests that hybrid rice may help solve Africa’s rice woes. Find out how tropical hybrids fared under conditions in the IITA research farm in Ibadan, Nigeria.

First it was the cassava mealybug, then the cassava green mite that threatened the food security of more than 300 million in sub-Saharan Africa. Now, another threat to cassava is emerging.

IITA plant pathologists present an overview of an emerging menace in banana in West-Central and Southern Africa, and the findings from ongoing efforts to control the disease.