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Watermelons used for seed consumption tend to have larger seeds, whereas watermelons used for flesh consumption often require relatively small seeds. Therefore, watermelon seed size has received extensive attention from consumers and breeders. However, the natural variation and genetic mechanism of watermelon seed size remain unclear. In the present study, 100-seed weight, seed hilum length, seed length, seed width, and seed thickness were examined in 197 watermelon accessions

Researchers from the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) have produced the genome sequence of signal grass (Urochloa ruziziensis), one of the most used forage grasses in tropical agriculture. Embrapa researcher Marco Pessoa Filho explains that U. ruziziensis has evolutionary proximity to other Urochloa species most used in cultivated tropical pastures – U. brizantha, U. decumbens, and U. humidicola.

International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and HarvestPlus developed biofortified pearl millet, which is a low-cost dietary source of iron and zinc and has the potential to enhance the nutrition of farming families. It could also improve physical and mental performance, especially among adolescents. Pearl millet is a staple food in the drier parts of Sub-Saharan Africa

Due to an increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices, the adoption of microbial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as antagonists against phytopathogens has emerged as an eco-friendly alternative to the use of agrochemicals. Here, we identified three Pseudomonas strains that were able to inhibit, in vitro, up to 80% of mycelial growth of the phytopathogenic fungus Thielaviopsis ethacetica, the causal agent of pineapple sett rot disease in sugarcane.

By investigating the bibliographic trends from research outputs about the consumer perception and genetically modified (GM) foods preference, researchers were not only able to identify links between GM food research and the countries that publish more about it than others, but they were also able to make policy recommendations based on the available data. A total of 543 journal articles published between 1981 and 2021 were used for the research.

The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released on April 4, 2022, reveals that the average annual global greenhouse gas emissions were at their highest levels in human history from 2010 to 2019, but has now slowed. The Report states that limiting global warming requires major transitions in the energy sector that will involve a substantial reduction in fossil fuel use, widespread electrification, improved energy efficiency, and the use of alternative fuels (such as hydrogen)

The precise regulation of programmed cell death (PCD) of the tapetum is crucial for the development of anthers and pollen in rice. In this study, we isolated and identified a male-sterile mutant of rice, osmyb103, which exhibited delayed tapetum degradation and defective mature pollen. Map-based cloning and genetic complementation revealed that OsMYB103 corresponded to the gene LOC_Os04g39470 and encoded a R2R3 MYB transcription factor.

To complement the adoption of genetically modified (GM) crops, experts recommend the conduct of national and international training courses, effective communication among key players, the adoption of bottom-up management, identifying experienced managers, involving experts in the planning and development stages of GM crops, and sharing of personal experiences to the audience to favorably change people's attitude towards GM crops.

TELA maize, which exhibits resistance to fall armyworm, stem borers, and tolerates moderate drought, was developed by researchers at the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University. The name was derived from the Latin word tutela, which means protection. TELA maize underwent confined field trials and received environmental approval for evaluation and open cultivation from the government of Nigeria on October 8, 2021.

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are ubiquitous supergene family which play crucial roles in detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Despite studies on GSTs, few studies have focused on them in perennial, wild plant species with high tolerance to environmental stress. Here, we identified 66 MruGST genes from the genome of Medicago ruthenica, a perennial legume species native to temperate grasslands with high tolerance to environmental stress.

The celebrations in Nairobi – home to the Institute’s regional offices in East and Southern Africa, build upon earlier festivities launched by the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi at ICRISAT’s global headquarters in Hyderabad, India in February. ICRISAT which won the Africa Food Prize in 2021, has an illustrious history of developing higher yielding and drought tolerant crop varieties, essential to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the semi-arid tropics.

Plantain (Musa spp.) is a staple food crop and a key source of income supporting the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, pests and diseases, synthetic chemicals, and climate variation threaten its production and productivity. A recent study titled “Subterranean Microbiome Affiliations of Plantain (Musa spp.) under Diverse Agroecologies of West and Central Africa” published in Microbial Ecology explored bacterial and fungal diversity, an important aspect in increasing plant performance in plantains.