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Plants
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Vegetables Breeding in South Africa
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Vegetables Breeding in South Africa

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2022) | Viewed by 20074

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Michael Bairu

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Guest Editor
Agricultural Research Council–Vegetables, Industrial and Medicinal Plants, Private Bag X293, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Interests: plant growth regulators; phytohormones; plant tissue culture; plant biotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Sunette Laurie

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Breeding and Genetic Resources Management, Agricultural Research Council, Vegetable, Industrial and Medicinal Plants, Private Bag X293, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Interests: plant breeding; genetics; farmer support
Dr. Sydney Mavengahama

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Crop Science Department and Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North West University, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa
Interests: plant breeding; agronomy; research methods; genetics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Vegetables play an important role in the food and nutrition security of the global population. They are also an important part of a healthy diet and significantly contribute to our immune system. The vegetable industry in South Africa is characterized by highly advanced private sector research and production as well as public sector research investment in support of the industry at large. There is also significant smallholder agricultural participation in vegetable production, primarily for domestic consumption and informal markets. Three major sectors play a role in vegetable research in South Africa: public research (the Agricultural Research Council), universities and the private sector. In South Africa, vegetable breeding remains an important contributor to the economy through the development of improved varieties that respond to economic and risk mitigation needs. South Africa is home to several indigenous and indigenized vegetables that are attracting strong research interest both domestically and from international collaborating institutions and scientists. The development of baseline information for the breeding and improvement of these nutrient-dense crops is as important as the work performed with conventional/established vegetables. Therefore, it is important to report on and document vegetable breeding research in South Africa. The journal Plants is pleased to share its intention to publish a Special Issue on “Vegetable Breeding in South Africa”. In this Special Issue, the plan is to publish original full-length papers/articles on: vegetable breeding research, reviews and the development of molecular tools for vegetable breeding in South Africa. Through this Special Issue, the journal Plants endeavors to contribute to the documentation and sharing of the diverse breeding knowledge and experiences of scientists based in South Africa and their international collaborators.

Dr. Michael Bairu
Dr. Sunette Laurie
Dr. Sydney Mavengahama
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • breeding
  • breeding tools
  • crop risk mitigation
  • cultivars
  • food and nutrition security
  • R&D
  • South Africa
  • vegetables

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 4568 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Nutritional Composition and Drought Tolerance Traits of Sweet Potato: Selection Criteria for Breeding Lines
by Sunette M. Laurie, Michael W. Bairu and Robert N. Laurie
Plants 2022, 11(14), 1804; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11141804 - 08 Jul 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2188
Abstract
Sweet potato is an important world staple with the potential to address hunger and malnutrition. The Agricultural Research Council of South Africa has led sweet potato breeding efforts in the country since 1952 and released several important cultivars. More detailed quality assessments are [...] Read more.
Sweet potato is an important world staple with the potential to address hunger and malnutrition. The Agricultural Research Council of South Africa has led sweet potato breeding efforts in the country since 1952 and released several important cultivars. More detailed quality assessments are necessary in addition to general breeding criteria. The present study investigated sweet potato cultivars and elite clones for (1) their nutritional composition; (2) biochemical reaction to drought stress; (3) correlate biochemical reaction to root yield for possible identification of screening methods for drought tolerance in sweet potato. Orange-fleshed cultivars, in particular Bophelo, had superior contents of Fe, Zn, Mg, Ca, Mn, and dietary fiber. Cream-fleshed cultivars, particularly Ndou, were higher in starch and carbohydrate. When sweet potato cultivars were subjected to drought stress, significant changes were noted in most antioxidant enzymes, chlorophyll and proline concentrations, and 13C discrimination. All of these showed significant correlations with root yield. For screening of drought tolerance, the determination of nitrate reductase, proline, and chlorophyll concentrations at 60 days after planting are recommended. Ndou was less affected by drought stress. Bophelo and Ndou, which are gaining popularity on the informal market, have superior nutritional value and are good cultivar choices for food security and addressing malnutrition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetables Breeding in South Africa)
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14 pages, 1164 KiB  
Article
Selection of Sweetpotato Parental Genotypes Using Simple Sequence Repeat Markers
by Sonia I. M. Naidoo, Sunette M. Laurie, Assefa B. Amelework, Hussein Shimelis and Mark Laing
Plants 2022, 11(14), 1802; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11141802 - 08 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1304
Abstract
Knowledge of the genetic diversity and genetic relationship is important in crop improvement. The objective of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of 31 sweetpotato genotypes and furthermore to select distantly related individuals for breeding of superior parental clones. The genotypes [...] Read more.
Knowledge of the genetic diversity and genetic relationship is important in crop improvement. The objective of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of 31 sweetpotato genotypes and furthermore to select distantly related individuals for breeding of superior parental clones. The genotypes (sourced from the Agricultural Research Council, South Africa) originating from Africa and American continent were genotyped using eight highly polymorphic SSR markers. The SSR markers generated a total of 83 putative alleles. The polymorphic information content (PIC) of the tested simple sequence markers varied from 0.73 to 0.91, with a mean of 0.85. At least 11 different alleles were found in 8 loci within the population, with 7 effective alleles per locus. Although high diversity was found among the genotypes, genetic distances among the genotypes were relatively low. Cluster analysis revealed the existence of three distinct genetic groups, and the clustering patterns follow to some extent the geographic origin and pedigree of the genotypes. High gene flow was observed among different sweetpotato accessions. The selected SSR markers were found to be highly polymorphic with high discriminatory power for genetic characterization studies and are useful genomic tool to complement phenotyping of sweetpotato genotypes. Two heterotic groups were found in the study. The heterotic group A was composed of 14 genotypes mainly of South African origin, while the heterotic group B consisted of 17 genotypes of American origin. The two distinct groups were important for the selection of breeding clones that were distantly related to be used as parental clones in the advancement of traits of interest. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetables Breeding in South Africa)
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20 pages, 24445 KiB  
Article
Morpho-Agronomic Evaluation of Lagenaria siceraria Landraces and Their F1 Populations
by Lungani Siyabonga Nkosi, Nontuthuko Rosemary Ntuli and Sydney Mavengahama
Plants 2022, 11(12), 1558; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11121558 - 13 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1602
Abstract
Lagenaria siceraria is one of the most important cucurbitaceous vegetables due to its prolific bearing habit, its edibility as a cooked vegetable, and its low cost of cultivation. The objective of this study was to evaluate variation in the morpho-agronomic traits among selected [...] Read more.
Lagenaria siceraria is one of the most important cucurbitaceous vegetables due to its prolific bearing habit, its edibility as a cooked vegetable, and its low cost of cultivation. The objective of this study was to evaluate variation in the morpho-agronomic traits among selected landraces and their F1 populations. The landraces were crossed based on the North Carolina II genetic design to develop F1 populations. The twelve F1 populations along with seven parental landraces were grown in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed among quantitative traits suggesting considerable genetic variability. The genotypes displayed significant variation in most qualitative traits of fruits and seeds. The first five principal components of quantitative traits among the evaluated 19 genotypes contributed 74.84% of the variability. The biplot and dendrogram clustered the genotypes into five clusters according to their vegetative, fruit, and seed traits. The highest value for the broad-sense heritability estimate was recorded for days to edible harvest maturity trait. The F1 progenies were more variable than the landraces and can therefore be used for further Lagenaria siceraria genetic improvement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetables Breeding in South Africa)
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21 pages, 1866 KiB  
Article
Potato Cultivar Identification in South Africa Using a Custom SNP Panel
by Inge Gazendam, Pinkie Mojapelo and Michael W. Bairu
Plants 2022, 11(12), 1546; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11121546 - 10 Jun 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2073
Abstract
DNA fingerprinting is a molecular technique applied to identify genetic differences between plant cultivars or lines and is used for genetic purity testing. The suitability of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panels for the fingerprinting of tetraploid potato were investigated as a new high [...] Read more.
DNA fingerprinting is a molecular technique applied to identify genetic differences between plant cultivars or lines and is used for genetic purity testing. The suitability of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panels for the fingerprinting of tetraploid potato were investigated as a new high throughput, objective, and cost-effective method instead of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). One-hundred and ninety (190) potato cultivars, including various cultivars currently important in South Africa, were genotyped at 500 SNP positions utilising SeqSNP by LGC Biosearch Technologies. An optimal panel of 25 SNP markers was identified that could discriminate between South African potato cultivars on genetic allele dosage. The genotypes of these SNPs were validated on selected potato genotypes using KASP (Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR) SNP assays. A database of SNP genotype profiles was compiled for all the entries of the germplasm database. The panel of 21 successful SNPs accurately identified the unique potato cultivars in the database. The KASP SNP assays of the successful SNP panel are therefore available for potato DNA fingerprinting as new germplasm, or purity test requests are submitted to ARC-VIMP. This panel provides an objective method for assigning putative cultivar identity to unknown samples submitted for fingerprinting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetables Breeding in South Africa)
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18 pages, 621 KiB  
Article
Agronomic, Genetic and Quantitative Trait Characterization of Nightshade Accessions
by Ntombifuthi Msewu Mabuza, Sydney Mavengahama and Motlogeloa Mokolobate
Plants 2022, 11(11), 1489; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11111489 - 31 May 2022
Viewed by 1561
Abstract
Nightshades are among many underutilized and neglected African indigenous leafy vegetable (AILVs) species, and if adequately exploited, they could improve food, nutrition and income among the rural population. Morphological characterization of available accessions is key for the breeder to identify and select superior [...] Read more.
Nightshades are among many underutilized and neglected African indigenous leafy vegetable (AILVs) species, and if adequately exploited, they could improve food, nutrition and income among the rural population. Morphological characterization of available accessions is key for the breeder to identify and select superior accessions as parents for utilization in breeding programs. Fifteen accessions of nightshade were evaluated for morpho-agronomic variation in an open field trial implemented in a randomized complete block design with three replicates across the two growing seasons. The accessions exhibited significant (p < 0.0001) differences in all quantitative traits. The data analysis showed that Scabrum (805.30 g/plant) followed by Ncampus (718.60 g/plant) produced the highest fresh leaf yield; for fruit fresh yield, the accession NigSN18 (1782.00 g/plant) recorded the highest, followed by ManTown (1507.90 g/plant). The accession N5547 had the tallest plants (66.83 cm), followed by accession Timbali (62.31 cm). The first four principal components (PCs) accounted for 86.82% of the total variation, which had an eigenvalue greater than 1. The cluster analysis grouped the accessions into 14 clusters based on their genetic similarity. Results of genetic studies revealed that phenotypic coefficient variation was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation for all parameters evaluated, indicating the environmental influence on the expression of these traits. Both GCV and PCV were higher for the largest leaf area, moderate to high for the remaining characters and low for leaf fresh yield per plant. High heritability coupled with genetic advance as a mean percentage (H2-70.59%, GAM-142.4%), indicating the presence of additive gene effects. Hence, selection can be employed for the improvement of this trait in nightshades. The study revealed sufficient genetic variability in the nightshade accessions, which can be exploited for crop improvement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetables Breeding in South Africa)
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13 pages, 301 KiB  
Article
Expression of Nutritional Traits in Vegetable Cowpea Grown under Various South African Agro-Ecological Conditions
by Abe Shegro Gerrano, Ntombokulunga W. Mbuma and Rita H. Mumm
Plants 2022, 11(11), 1422; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11111422 - 27 May 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1557
Abstract
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.), a traditional legume food crop indigenous to Africa, has potential as both a vegetable and grain crop in contributing to dietary diversity to support health and address malnutrition, especially for those relying heavily on wheat, maize, and rice. [...] Read more.
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.), a traditional legume food crop indigenous to Africa, has potential as both a vegetable and grain crop in contributing to dietary diversity to support health and address malnutrition, especially for those relying heavily on wheat, maize, and rice. The expression of nutritional traits (protein content and concentrations of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn)) in cowpea leaves was evaluated over diverse agro-ecologies of South Africa and typical agronomic practices of smallholder farmers. The genotypes evaluated displayed genetic variation for all four traits. The mean values of Fe, Zn, Mn and protein content varied from 33.11 to 69.03 mg.100.g−1; 4.00 to 4.70 mg.100.g−1; and 14.40 to 19.63 mg.100.g−1 and 27.98 to 31.98%, respectively. The correlation analysis revealed significant degree of positive association between protein and Zn (r = 0.20), while negative associations were observed between Mn and protein (−0.46) and between Mn and Fe (r = −0.27). Furthermore, the expression of these important nutrient traits was influenced by the climatic conditions represented by six environments (location by year combinations) as is typical of ‘quality’ traits. Additionally, genotype-by-environment interaction effects were detected, suggesting that local soil properties and soil health may play a role in nutritional content in plants, perhaps particularly for legume crops that rely on symbiotic relationships with soil bacterial populations to fix nitrogen, which is crucial to protein formation. Further studies are needed to understand how to coordinate and align agronomic and soil management practices in vegetable cowpea production, especially those workable for the smallholder farmer, to realize the full genetic potential and nutritional value of improved vegetable cowpea varieties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetables Breeding in South Africa)

Review

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19 pages, 401 KiB  
Review
Advances in Genetic Analysis and Breeding of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz): A Review
by Assefa B. Amelework and Michael W. Bairu
Plants 2022, 11(12), 1617; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11121617 - 20 Jun 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3419
Abstract
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is the sixth most important food crop and consumed by 800 million people worldwide. In Africa, cassava is the second most important food crop after maize and Africa is the worlds’ largest producer. Though cassava is not one [...] Read more.
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is the sixth most important food crop and consumed by 800 million people worldwide. In Africa, cassava is the second most important food crop after maize and Africa is the worlds’ largest producer. Though cassava is not one of the main commodity crops in South Africa, it is becoming a popular crop among farming communities in frost-free areas, due to its climate-resilient nature. This necessitated the establishment of a multi-disciplinary research program at the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa. The objective of this review is to highlight progress made in cassava breeding and genetic analysis. This review highlights the progress of cassava research worldwide and discusses research findings on yield, quality, and adaptability traits in cassava. It also discusses the limitations and the prospects of the cassava R&D program towards development of the cassava industry in South Africa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetables Breeding in South Africa)
23 pages, 2845 KiB  
Review
Breeding of Vegetable Cowpea for Nutrition and Climate Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa: Progress, Opportunities, and Challenges
by Tesfaye Walle Mekonnen, Abe Shegro Gerrano, Ntombokulunga Wedy Mbuma and Maryke Tine Labuschagne
Plants 2022, 11(12), 1583; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11121583 - 15 Jun 2022
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5280
Abstract
Currently, the world population is increasing, and humanity is facing food and nutritional scarcity. Climate change and variability are a major threat to global food and nutritional security, reducing crop productivity in the tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. Cowpea has the [...] Read more.
Currently, the world population is increasing, and humanity is facing food and nutritional scarcity. Climate change and variability are a major threat to global food and nutritional security, reducing crop productivity in the tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. Cowpea has the potential to make a significant contribution to global food and nutritional security. In addition, it can be part of a sustainable food system, being a genetic resource for future crop improvement, contributing to resilience and improving agricultural sustainability under climate change conditions. In malnutrition prone regions of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries, cowpea has become a strategic dryland legume crop for addressing food insecurity and malnutrition. Therefore, this review aims to assess the contribution of cowpea to SSA countries as a climate-resilient crop and the existing production challenges and perspectives. Cowpea leaves and immature pods are rich in diverse nutrients, with high levels of protein, vitamins, macro and micronutrients, minerals, fiber, and carbohydrates compared to its grain. In addition, cowpea is truly a multifunctional crop for maintaining good health and for reducing non-communicable human diseases. However, as a leafy vegetable, cowpea has not been researched and promoted sufficiently because it has not been promoted as a food security crop due to its low yield potential, susceptibility to biotic and abiotic stresses, quality assurance issues, policy regulation, and cultural beliefs (it is considered a livestock feed). The development of superior cowpea as a leafy vegetable can be approached in different ways, such as conventional breeding and gene stacking, speed breeding, mutation breeding, space breeding, demand-led breeding, a pan-omics approach, and local government policies. The successful breeding of cowpea genotypes that are high-yielding with a good nutritional value as well as having resistance to biotics and tolerant to abiotic stress could also be used to address food security and malnutrition-related challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetables Breeding in South Africa)
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