Yam

Crop Overview 

More than 54 million tons of yams are produced in Sub-Saharan Africa annually on 4.6 M Ha. Over 95% of this production lies in a five-country “yam belt” that includes Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire. Yam is the preferred staple food in West Africa and elastic demand is constrained by inadequate production and losses in storage. Yam provides food security, income, and adaptation to climate change to farmers in West Africa. Like many other crops in the face of climate change,  yam faces increase pressure from pests, diseases, low yield, and poor quality. 

 Research Goals 

RTB Breeding for Africa Yam applies advanced genomic technologies and novel breeding methods to improve yam breeding and deliver better varieties to farmers and consumers in West Africa. It aims to modernize yam breeding and develop and release next generation of varieties that are superior in agronomic performance and food quality. We do this by: 

  • Using genomic selection and other best practices to increase the genetic gain and shorten the breeding cycle of yam. 
  • Developing and deploying new yam varieties that have higher yield, disease resistance, and quality traits preferred by farmers and consumers. 
  • Building capacity and strengthening collaboration among yam breeding programs in West Africa and beyond. 
  • Engaging with stakeholders and end-users to ensure our breeding is demand-driven and inclusive. 

Project Highlights

The AfricaYam project is focused on breeding for high yielding and robust varieties of white yams (D. rotundata) and water yams (D. alata) that will be preferred by farmers and suited to market demands. The AfricaYam project and its partners are working towards a vision to increase yam productivity whilst reducing production costs and environmental impact by developing and deploying end-user preferred varieties with higher yield, greater resistance to pest and diseases and improved quality. The project is fully funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The project is led by IITA and involves a network of research organizations in the four main producer countries in the yam belt (Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria) as well as collaboration with other research organization outside Africa.

Major achievements :

  1. Upgrading of physical infrastructures and strengthening research capacity for applied breeding in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and IITA yam breeding programs.
  2. Reduced breeding cycle: The yam team worked very closely with Excellence in Breeding (EiB) by increasing accuracy and reducing recycling time from four to three years.
  3. Open access YamBase: The YamBase and associated statistical tools was developed and made available to yam breeding and research community. The database contains a yam genome browser, yam ontology tools, phenotyping tools, and social networking features.
  4. New yam varieties released: In partnership with the NARS, 24 improved varieties of alata and D. rotundata have been released since inception of the project.

 Varieties Released 

The project predecessor, Africa Yam Phase 2, developed and released five new yam varieties that improved yield, disease resistance, and quality traits. These varieties are: 

  • TDr 131: A high-yielding variety with resistance to yam mosaic virus (YMV) and yam anthracnose disease (YAD), and high dry matter content. 
  • TDr 133: A high-yielding variety with resistance to YMV and YAD, and high starch content. 
  • TDr 135: A high-yielding variety with resistance to YMV and YAD, and high beta-carotene content. 
  • TDr 137: A high-yielding variety with resistance to YMV and YAD, and high iron and zinc content. 
  • TDr 139: A high-yielding variety with resistance to YMV and YAD, and high protein content. 

 Knowledge Generated 

Enhanced capacity for more efficient and effective yam breeding programs in Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and IITA. 

New genomic resources and novel breeding methods and tools for enhanced yam breeding efficiency in West Africa 

Improved yam genotypes adapted to production systems and suited to market preferences nominated for release. 

Africa Yam Phase 2 has created genomic resources and tools for the global yam community, such as the 3rd Generation Hapmap, the YamBase database, and the YamBreed R package. It  also adopted genomic selection and other best practices that have reduced the breeding cycle by more than half and increased the accuracy and efficiency of selection. Africa Yam Phase 2 has conducted product profile and variety adoption studies to identify the traits and preferences of different segments of yam farmers and consumers. Africa Yam Phase 2 also established a network of yam breeders and stakeholders that fosters knowledge exchange and collaboration. 

 

Future Focus

In the next phase, we aim to:

  1. Increase our partnership and widescale testing networks to deliver genetic gain to farmers
  2. Carry out genetic mapping of effective sources of resistance to YMV, anthracnose, and food quality traits
  3. Develop non-stalking or bushy and determinate yam types through innovations for growth habit manipulation.
  4. Incorporate food quality traits in the assessment and advancement of our yam breeding populations.
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