Breeding for Alectra Vogelii Resistance on Tanzanian Local Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) walp) Landrace Using Molecular Marker
Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI)
Mr Meshack Makenge at TARI, Ilonga station.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Background
​​Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is a vital grain legume predominantly cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions. It stands as the most economically significant legume crop in Africa. Despite its importance, cowpea production in Tanzania suffers from low average yields, primarily due to abiotic and biotic factors, including the parasitic weed Alectra vogelii (A. vogelii), which can cause up to 50% yield losses.
A. vogelii is highly invasive and can spread to new areas, infesting large parts of agricultural land because it can produce as much as 600,000 new seeds per plant making it challenging to control. To address this issue, this pilot project is going to develop cowpea varieties resistant to A. vogelii. Developing and deploying resistant crop varieties will help farmers to mitigate the economic losses and food security challenges accompanied by A. vogelii infestation and eventually contributing to sustainable agricultural expansion in affected regions.
Objectives
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To generate the F2 mapping population harbouring genes resistant to A. vogelii.
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To examine the phenotypic response of the cowpea segregating population (F2) to A. vogelii isolates under controlled conditions.
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To genotype and utilise marker-assisted selection of F2 cowpea population.
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PROJECT TEAM MEMBERS
Mr Mustafa Bakari Mgula,
Research Assistant (TARI)
Dr. Hellen Kanyagha,
Senior Laboratory Scientist (SUA)
Dr Beatrice Mwaipopo
PI, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA).
Dr Mwaipopo obtained her bachelor’s degree in Agriculture General from Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in 2010 followed by a master’s degree in Crop Science in 2014. During her master’s degree Dr Mwaipopo worked in Prof. Timko’s laboratory in University of Virginia. Prof Timko was also her supervisor in a research project she was conducting. This project was later presented in Crop Collaborative Research (McKnight Foundation) conference (2014) in Mozambique. In 2018 Dr Mwaipopo obtained her PhD from SUA concentrating on viruses in common bean. From 2013 until 2023 Dr Mwaipopo worked for Ministry of Agriculture as an Agricultural Research Officer. Currently she works as a lecturer in Department of Crop Science and Production in SUA. In addition to her lecturer position, Dr Mwaipopo dedicates her time to research efforts within Crop Science and Crop Improvement. She’s part of groundbreaking project aiming to utilize AI in disease identification, prediction and management in crops.
Mr Meshack Makenge
Co-PI, Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI)
Mr Makenge obtained his master’s degree in Crop Science from SUA in 2016. He has since worked for Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) in various roles from which the most recent one is Centre Coordinator of Research and Innovation and Legume Research National Coordinator. TARI Ilonga station has released 8 cowpea varieties since 2003, and Mr Makenge has been part of the team producing these new varieties. The most known varieties released are Vuli 1 and 2 as well as Vuli AR 1 and 2 which have been used in breeding projects in several countries around Africa. Mr Makenge has also participated in developing improved varieties within other crops such as mungbean, pigeonpea, soybean and sunflower.
Mr Mussa Rashid Tamba,
Breeder (TARI)
Dr Luseko Amos Chilagane,
Senior Lecturer (SUA)
Ezra Safari Mwantoe,
Technician (TARI)
