Augustine Antwi-Boasiako

By Hans Adu-Dapaah, Michael Kwabena Osei, Joseph Adjebeng-Danquah, Stella Owusu Nketia, Augustine Antwi-Boasiako, Osuman Alimatu Sadia, Peter Ofori Amoako and Richard Agyare

Tomato production in Africa has increased due to increased population, rising consumer demands for nutritious and healthy food and potential use of improved technologies. Demand-led’ plant breeding puts producers and consumers at the heart of research and development involving stakeholders even before the research starts. These ‘stakeholders’ are not only farmers but key actors along the tomato value chain. They influence how the tomato is traded as: fresh food and processing product. This chapter focuses on different approaches to fast-track tomato breeding so as to contribute to the transformation of African agriculture by enabling small scale farmers to compete in local and regional markets, by increasing the availability and adoption of high performing tomato varieties that meet market demands. It further outlines development of varieties that meet farmer needs, consumer preferences, and market demand in Africa. These new varieties are designed to meet client needs by connecting plant breeders with crop value chains, seed distribution organizations, and encouraging enterprise and entrepreneurship in transforming agriculture in Africa. Lastly, it outlines the prospects and challenges associated with demand-led breeding of tomato and offers suggestions to increase food security in Africa.

Part of the book: Tomato

By Augustine Antwi-Boasiako, Padmore Adu-Antwi, Richard Adu Amoah, Augustine Boakye Boateng, Joseph Gyau, Matilda Frimpong, Isaac Newton Boakye-Mensah and Ivy Odi Ahiamadia

Agricultural plant genetic resources are constantly going into extinction having negative implications for plant genetic banks. Hence, there is a need to generate variations. Stimulated mutagenesis offers an efficient tool to generate genetic variation and explore the function of genes. It also facilitates the identification of genes and their roles in traits of economic interest to breeders, farmers and consumers. Thus, transforming the agro-based industries in overcoming obstacles (poor yield, lodging, shattering, pests and disease infestations). Exploring alternatives to integrate farmers’ and consumers’ desirable traits into their preferred cultivars has led to major advancements in mutation breeding. The chapter provides a comprehensive update on induced mutagenesis approaches, increasing efficiency of targeted mutagenesis and identification of novel traits in mutated populations. Furthermore, it reveals the efforts of ten countries that are leading the development of varieties via mutation across the globe and the most prioritised crops that have received critical attention in mutation breeding. Moreover, it seeks to bring to light the current approaches used in facilitating mutation breeding. It details the current progress made in improving plants with evidence relating to generating genetic resources, biotic and abiotic stresses, nutritional, and quality improvement whiles providing future directions for mutation breeding.

Part of the book: Genetically Modified Organisms [Working title]

By Augustine Antwi-Boasiako, Priscilla Amponsah, Jacinta Adoma Opoku, Daouda Coulibaly and Paul Mintah

Mango (Mangifera indica) is an economically and nutritionally significant fruit crop in the tropical and subtropical regions. The demand for mango fruits and processed products has been high both in the internal and external markets due to its taste and its associated health benefits. In meeting the demands requirement, reengineering the various tools that are available to improve mango production in response to the varied stresses in their environment, especially in the era of climate change, is crucial. The prime goal is to demonstrate the effects of climate change on mango growth, yield and quality while showing interventions that have been deployed to combat it. The chapter focuses on the role climate variability plays in the growth and yield parameters of mango trees, as well as the improvement objectives and approaches employed in enhancing their production and quality. It offers the diverse progress made in overcoming the biotic stresses that hinder mango production as well as the intervention made in improving the nutritional and quality traits of mangoes while offering directions for future research works on mango trees.

Part of the book: Abiotic Stress in Crop Plants