Genetic diversity analysis of Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) Landrace from Ethiopia as reveled by ISSR marker

Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) is one of the five most important legume crops from the genus Phaseolus though it is one of the neglected crops in Ethiopia. There is no national breeding program for its improvement. As it is true for all crops, understanding the genetic diversity of Lima bean is useful for its improvement and sustainable use. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to investigate genetic diversity of Lima bean landrace collected in Ethiopia using eight issr markers. A total of 96 landrace were collected from five administrative zones of Ethiopia from which 106 clear bands were detected. About 95 (88.7%) of the bands were polymorphic. The genetic diversity analyses result revealed that landrace collected from West Wellega showed the highest (0.1864) genetic diversity. amova demonstrated highly significant (P=0.00) genetic diversity among and within populations. A considerable proportion (66%) of the total genetic diversity was distributed among populations and 34% within populations. In addition, the calculated Fst value was high (Fst = 0.66), associated with a low gene flow value (Nm=0.27) indicating lower differentiation of the populations, which, in turn, implied no significant exchange of planting materials among farmers in the studied populations and the nature of the crops that Lima bean is 52% self pollinated crop. upgma, structure and PCoA analysis showed very strong grouping among individuals collected from the same zones and geographically distinct zones. Overall, genetic diversity achieved from this study could be used as pioneer information about the existing genetic resource for future Lima bean conservation and improvement strategy in Ethiopia.

Plant agrobiodiversity conservation and use in intensive farming systems: N-Italy as a case study.

Northern Italy is an area particularly suitable for the cultivation of different crops. It used to be characterized by a high agrobiodiversity. However, it is estimated that over the last decades, this area experienced a genetic erosion of more than 95%, resulting in the loss of many traditional plant genetic resources (PGR). Nevertheless, recent surveys found an unexpectedly high agrobiodiversity which remains. The presented study aims to provide a complete overview of plant agrobiodiversity (in terms of crop landraces, old cultivars and neglected crops) in northern Italy using a mixed approach of literature research and ethnobotanical field surveys. This paper is a fundamental step towards putting in place successful on farm and ex situ conservation measures in the study area. 811 entities were found, of which 27 were identified as neglected crops, 377 as landraces (plus 124 doubtful landraces) and 99 as old cultivars (plus 184 doubtful old cultivars). 248 entities were here recorded for the first time through field surveys. It clearly emerges that by using an ethnobotanical approach, several PGR can still be found in the study area especially in small farms and home gardens. We describe hotspots of crop diversity and areas in which there is still a lack of knowledge of local agrobiodiversity. Only 43% of the PGR recorded are conserved long-term in seed banks, underlying the fact that great efforts are needed to ensure the ex situ conservation of PGR in northern Italy. Careful interventions are needed to enhance the on-farm conservation status of the crop diversity reported here by enhancing its demand and its accessibility.

Minor Cereal Crops Production and their Future Prospects in Bangladesh

Different kinds of cereals are the dominant carbohydrate source for the global population of which minor cereals, a group of neglected crops, play an important role in proving substitute of rice or wheat in the harsh environment of the globe. These crops have been replaced in many areas with the advent of irrigation facilities, availability of modern crop varieties and improvement of fertilizer management systems. In the present investigation, we have delineated production zones and established relationships of minor cereal cultivation with selected social character and future climatic conditions based on existing literature and survey data. In most cases, six minor cereals are cultivated in Bangladesh. Panicum miliaceum and Setaria italic cover larger areas and are mainly grown in north, north-west, central parts and hilly regions of the country and provide 400-1500 kg ha-1 grain yield. Although low grain yields, farmers having 0.2-0.8 ha land holdings mostly cultivate minor cereals because of its high profit within a short period of time, can be grown in poor soil and does not require special care. Besides, the product can be utilized in different ways, such as food and feed with social aristocracy. Because of climate change impacts, the optimum temperature windows for studying minor cereals will be narrowed down to 15 November through 15 February by 2050 although the critical maximum temperature range might not be a problem for growing minor cereals in Bangladesh. If high-yielding varieties of minor cereals are available, it would be a climate-smart technology in the future.

Application of the Resource-based Theory (RBT) to Neglected and Underutilized Crop Species (NUCS) and the opportunities they present for rural household food security: The Ghana context

Notwithstanding the many criticisms of the core propositions of the theory, the RBT has found many applications in various disciplines. In this paper, the author applies the core principles of the theory to highlight a strategic plant genetic resource available to farmers and agricultural practitioners in Ghana. While a number of different theoretical positions can contribute to an understanding of the concept and relevance of these often neglected crops, the RBT is used as a lens to analyse and provide some perspectives on the NUCS advantage. The intention is to create a sense of urgency among relevant stakeholders in Ghana’s agricultural sector on the need to fully embrace this critical ‘internal’ resource’ in its effort at addressing the constraints to food insecurity among rural households. The paper concludes with the author’s own perspectives and recommendations. Citation: F. Baa-Poku. Application of the Resource-based Theory (RBT) to Neglected and Underutilized Crop Species (NUCS) and the opportunities they present for rural household food security: The Ghana Context. 2020; 5(1): 1－10. Received: (February 12, 2020) Accepted: (March 31, 2020

Potentiality of Underutilized Crop Dioscorea Spp.: A Source of Nutraceutical

Good Health and Well-being is one of the important goals in the current decade of twenty first century. The people of current generation prefer the consumption of plant sourced bioactive molecules over the modern medicines because the former has no side effects and residue free. In order to mitigate the food requirement of growing global population during the previous century, the green revolution technologies focused on fewer crops leading to negligence of several important crops; popularly known as underutilized or neglected crops. In the list of underutilized crops, Dioscorea spp. occupies significant niche as it is rich in several phytochemicals and could be grown under multiple stress conditions faced by the modern agricultural practices. Besides, it has been known as prominent member under age old practices of “traditional health care system” to treat several malaises of human being during the early date of civilization. The tubers and bulbils of the Dioscorea spp. are rich in saponins, tannin, flavonoids, sterols, polyphenols, and glycosides in addition to its higher contents of basic essential nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals etc. Further, its tubers are staple food for indigenous people of several Asian and African countries. Therefore, the Dioscorea spp. signifies as an important crop both to the next generation population as well as underprivileged class of people in the coming decade for good health wellbeing and food security. SAARC J. Agri., 17(2): 1-13 (2019)

Conservation of Crop Genetic Resources in Italy with a Focus on Vegetables and a Case Study of a Neglected Race of Brassica oleracea

The study attempts, above all, to provide a summary, with a strictly scientific basis, about the strategies of conservation of autochthonous agrobiodiversity followed in Italy. A special focus is dedicated on vegetables and, therefore, could represent a contribution to improve the national strategy for the safeguarding of its agrobiodiversity in general. The paper offers also an outlook on the most critical factors of the ex situ conservation and some actions which need to be taken. Some examples of ‘novel’ recovered neglected crops are also given. Finally a case study is proposed: ‘Mugnolicchio’, a neglected race of Brassica oleracea L., cultivated in Altamura (Ba) in southern Italy. ‘Mugnolicchio’ might be considered as an early step in the evolution of broccoli (B. oleracea L. var. italica Plenck) like ‘Mugnoli’ another neglected race described from Salento (Apulia).

Documenting Abundance and Use of Underutilized Plant Species in the Mid Hill Region of Nepal

Around the world, many communities depend on plant species that are outside the mainstream of agricultural research and development. These species are also known by various names, such as ‘underutilized crops’ ‘neglected crops, poor people’s crops’ or ‘third order crops’. More recently, they have been designated as crop for the future agriculture. Changing human perception and custodian, changing food habits, influence of globalization are the major factors leading to low priority to the local crop products. The study of underutilized plant species of the mid hill region is an attempt to highlight the food, fruits, vegetables, pulses and medicinal plants; and their mode of use by the local people. The study was conducted in two VDCs; Siddeshwor of Palpa and Hastichaur of Gulmi districts. A total of 52 plant species belonging to 27 families were recorded to be used frequently by the people of Siddeshwor and Hastichaur VDCs. Declining consumption of these local crop varieties at local level and low demand in the local market due to eroding traditional knowledge are main reasons for the farmers being unwilling to grow these crops. ECOPRINT 21: 63-71, 2014DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/eco.v21i0.11906

Research, conservation and utilisation of plant genetic resources and agro-biodiversity enhancement – Contribution of the Research Institute of Crop Production Prague-Ruzyně

Activities on plant genetic resources in the Czech Republic are concentrated in the National Programme on Conservation and Utilisation of Plant Genetic Resources. Eleven institutions maintain 51,000 accessions, of which 17.3% belong to vegetatively propagated species. Research Institute of Crop Production (RICP) Prague has the responsibility for the coordination of the Programme; it holds more than half of all accessions in collections of genetic resources, runs the national information system and provides long-term storage for all seed-propagated species. All Czech collections are fully documented in passport data. Evaluation data (based on National descriptor lists for 29 crops) are available for 33% of the accessions. Much work is currently spent to the description and evaluation of collections, to facilitate their utilisation in breeding and agricultural practice. Also collecting missions on the Czech territory, conservation and monitoring of valuable resources maintained in situ contributeto the maintenance and evaluation of local resources. Landraces are considered a valuable part of the collections. Suitable ways of “on farm” conservation are investigated for selected accessions, to support their utilisation in agricultural practice and to enrich the existing diversity of crops and cultivars. Cultivars and landraces of neglected crops (buckwheat, millet, hulled wheat species) were successfully used to enrich the agro-biodiversity and for specific purposes of human nutrition. Close collaboration with producers (often organic farms) and processing industry has been established. Selected alternative crops and catch crops were studied as potential new crops.

Polymorphism of waxy proteins in Spanish hulled wheats

Hulled wheats are neglected crops that have potential in plant breeding programmes of modern durum and common wheat. Among these wheats, three species were widely cultivated in Spain until the mid 20th century: Triticum monococcum ssp. monococcum (einkorn), Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccum (emmer) and Triticum aestivum ssp. spelta (spelt). One important aspect of wheat grain quality is starch composition, which is related to the action of waxy proteins. A collection of 536 accessions of Spanish hulled wheats was analyzed for waxy protein composition using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Polymorphism was found for the Wx-A1, Wx-B1 and Wx-D1 proteins, including new and null alleles in the three species. An allelic variant with an electrophoretic mobility not previously described was found in einkorn wheat. In emmer and spelt, some alleles with different mobility were also found. A Wx-B1 null allele was detected in emmer wheat, and null alleles for Wx-A1, Wx-B1 and Wx-D1 were found in spelt wheat. The variations found could be used to enlarge the gene pool available to breeders, and to design new cultivars with different levels of amylose content.