Hussein Shimelis

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• PhD Plant Breeding
• Professor and Chair of Crop Science at University of KwaZulu-Natal

Knowledge on gene action and trait expression are important for effective breeding. The objective of this study was to determine the general combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA), maternal effects and heritability of drought tolerance, yield and yield components of candidate sweetpotato clones. Twelve genotypes selected for thei...

Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] is a staple food crop in Ethiopia, and has become known globally as a health food for its gluten free flour, which also has a unique nutritional profile. A key to successful variety development through designed breeding is the use of diverse genetic resources, especially when breeding for complex traits such as...

Yields of maize (Zea mays L.) are remarkably low in sub-Saharan Africa and yet farmers have limited access to improved varieties. The objective of this study was to determine combining ability and heterosis of 18 elite maize inbred lines in environments prone to northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) disease in the mid-altitude tropics. Nine elite inbred...

Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean [L.] Verdc.) is an important grain legume native to Africa. Unlike other legumes, the crop has been largely neglected by science and is part of the so called neglected and underutilized plant species of Africa. In Africa, farmers currently grow unimproved and heterogeneous landraces in seed mixtures that hold d...

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan [L.] Millspaugh) is an important multipurpose grain legume crop primarily grown in tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, Africa and Latin America. In Africa, the crop is grown for several purposes including food security, income generation, livestock feed and in agroforestry. Production in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA...

The genus Cucurbita includes 20-27 species of which 5 are the most cultivated in the world. The 5 species are Cucurbita argyrosperma, Cucurbita ficifolia, Cucurbita maxima D (giant/tropical/African pumpkin), C. moschata D (butternut/winter squash) and C. pepo L.(Courgette/Zucchini). Cucurbita moschata D, C. pepo L and C. maxima D are the most commo...

The objectives of this study were to appraise oil palm production and improvement in Tanzania, focusing on constraints, opportunities, and major farmers' preferences. A participatory rural appraisal study was conducted in Kigoma Region, in three selected districts. Data were collected from 392 oil palm farmers using semi-structured questionnaires....

Limited and variable rainfall conditions during flowering and grain filling stages remain the leading cause of poor yields and quality in the major produced crops, including wheat. Cultivating water-use-efficient wheat cultivars will buffer yield stability and environmental plasticity to achieve food security and economic opportunities. Therefore,...

The bean fly ( Ophiomya spp.) is one of the most destructive field pests of the common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.), notably in Eastern and Southern Africa. Several studies have recommended a range of methods for bean fly control. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of management practices and their impact on grain yield is not fully understood to hel...

Multiple trait selection guides the deployment of wheat varieties with high grain yield (GY) and water-use efficiency (WUE). The study aimed to determine the degree and trend of association between agronomic traits and major metabolites to identify influential traits and metabolites optimised by wheat genotypes for improved GY, WUE and drought tole...

Analyses of the genetic distance and composition of inbred lines are a prerequisite for parental selection and to exploit heterosis in plant breeding programs. The study aimed to assess genetic diversity and population structure of a maize germplasm panel comprising 182 founder lines and 866 derived inbred lines using Single Nucleotide Polymorphism...

Sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica [L.] Roem.) is a climate-smart and niche opportunity cucurbit crop. It has multiple utilities, including human consumption and industrial fiber production. However, it is undervalued with limited product development due to poor research and investment support. There is increased interest in sponge gourd cultivation du...

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. (2n = 6x = 42; AABBDD)) is a commodity crop serving diverse value chains worldwide. However, drought stress and poor soil health are major causes of a yield gap in wheat production. Silicon (Si) fertiliser application with drought-adapted wheat cultivars may enhance wheat productivity. This study aimed to examine the imp...

Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc) grains have variable phytochemical compositions and minerals vital for the food and feed industry. There is a need to exploit the genetic diversity of Bambara groundnut for breeding new varieties with enhanced seed yield, nutritional content and quality to develop various products. The objective of t...

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a major food and cash crop in the Kenyan highlands, widely grown by small-scale farmers. Farmer practices and constraints in potato production differ from region to region. A survey was conducted in three major potato producing districts namely Bomet, Molo and Meru Central with the following objectives: 1) to docume...

Maize (Zea mays L.) plays a critical role in smallholder food security in Ethiopia. Its production is rapidly increasing to the Highlands of Ethiopia where it has been a minor crop in the past. This study aimed to assess the magnitude and production systems of Highland maize, farmers’ production constraints, and their implications for the adoption...

Drought and low nitrogen stress are the leading cause of low crop production and productivity worldwide. Developing drought-tolerant wheat germplasm resilient to low nitrogen conditions is essential through genetic enhancement and selection for novel traits. The objective of the research was to investigate genetic diversity, parameters, and trait r...

Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.) genetic resources cultivated in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are relatively tolerant to heat and drought stress, presenting opportunities for developing climate-smart and drought-resilient cultivars adapted to dry environments. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine drought tolerance...

Genetic variation for economic traits associated with drought adaptation is a prerequisite for developing climate-smart crop varieties, including tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray). This study aimed to assess the magnitude of genetic variation and the relationship of agronomic traits among 45 tepary bean genotypes under drought-stress (...

Horned melon (Cucumis metuliferus E. Mey. Ex Naudin) (2n = 24) belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae and genus Cucumis. Horned melon is known by many names such as jelly melon (English), métulon (French), Kiwano® (in New Zealand), Melano® (in Israel), bitter wild cucumber (in South Africa), thorn melon (in Kenya), parachichi mwitu (Kiswahili in Kenya...

Tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray) is an under‐utilized genetic resource with significant potential for food security and stress tolerance breeding. Expanding its cultivation in southern Africa requires high‐yielding, locally adapted and drought‐tolerant varieties. This study determined the combining ability and genetic components for seed...

African horned melon (Cucumis metuliferus E. Meyer ex Naudin, 2n = 2x = 24) is an under-researched and under-utilised cucurbit crop primarily grown for its nutritious fruit. In its centre of diversity, the crop is valued for its relatively high tolerance to insect pests, diseases, drought and heat stress. It is a potential opportunity crop and a va...

Understanding the genotype x environment (GE) interaction for traget trait is valuable for growers, agronomists, breeders and the seed industry. The objective of this study was to see and explore the genotype x environment interaction for grain yield of wheat to better guide genotype selection and breeding. The genotype main effect and GE interacti...

Integrating grain yield, component traits and metabolite profiles aids in selecting drought‐adapted and climate‐smart crop varieties preferred by end users. Understanding the trends and magnitude of grain‐based metabolites is vital for selecting wheat genotypes with higher grain yield, drought tolerance, water use efficiency and product profiles. T...

Background Genetic improvement for Striga hermonthica (Sh) and S. asiatica (Sa) resistance is the most economical and effective control method to enhance the productivity of maize and other major cereal crops. Hence, identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with Striga resistance and economic traits will guide the pace and precisi...

Striga hermonthica (Sh) and S. asiatica (Sa) are major parasitic weeds limiting cereal crop production and productivity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Under severe infestation, Striga causes yield losses of up to 100%. Breeding for Striga-resistant maize varieties is the most effective and economical approach to controlling the parasite. Well-charact...

Trait heritability and the response to selection depend on genetic variation, a prerequisite to developing sorghum varieties with desirable agronomic traits and high carbon sequestration for sustainable crop production and soil health. The present study aimed to assess the extent of genetic variability and associations among agronomic and carbon st...

Millets are gluten-free, high potential, niche opportunity crops due to their climate resilience, rich nutritional compositions, various health benefits, and extended grain storage quality. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), millets lack formal R&D support and funding for improvement, product development and marketing. There is a lack of modern varieties...

Crop biomass is the reservoir of carbon (C), a valuable input to the soil, thus supporting the soil fauna and enhancing soil health. There are limited studies that compared the major cereal crops for C storage for regenerative agriculture and to optimize C sequestration strategies. The objective of this study was to quantify the extent of variation...

Genetic diversity enhancement to select Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea [L.] Verdc. 2x = 2n = 22) breeding lines with economic traits is imperative to improve the crop's utilization in Sub-Saharan Africa. Gamma radiation is a vital mutagenic agent to create novel allelic combinations required for developing climate-smart Bambara groundnut vari...

Finger millet is a climate-resilient and highly nutritious small grain crop widely grown in the semi-arid tropics. It has multiple uses, including for food, feed and beverage preparations. However, finger millet is an under-utilized and under-researched crop with a mean yield of <1.0 t/ha despite a potential productivity of up to 8 t/ha. The yield...

Sorghum is a vital food and feed crop in the world’s dry regions. Developing sorghum cultivars with high biomass production and carbon sequestration can contribute to soil health and crop productivity. The objective of this study was to assess agronomic performance, biomass production and carbon accumulation in selected sorghum genotypes for produc...

The potential production and productivity of groundnuts are limited due to severe drought stress associated with climate change. The current study aimed to identify genomic regions and candidate genes associated with drought tolerance and component traits for gene introgression and to guide marker-assisted breeding of groundnut varieties. Ninety-ni...

The study examined crop genetic variation for water use efficiency and carbon sequestration potential among genotypes of different cereal crops grown in multiple environments. New candidate cultivars were generated through the project, currently at F3 generation. The candidate selections have shown enhanced grain yield and water use efficiency unde...

The study was conducted to estimate the extent of genetic variation, association between storage tuber yield and yield related traits and to identify the most persuasive character(s) involving 36 yam genotypes for selection and conservation. Field evaluation was conducted at Jimma Agricultural Research Center in Ethiopia using a 6x6 lattice design...

Identification of maize germplasm with dual resistance to Striga hermonthica (Sh) and S. asiatica (Sa), could lead to the development of cultivars with stable resistance. 130 tropical and sub-tropical maize germplasms, including checks, were evaluated in a controlled environment for their reaction to Sh and Sa infestations using a 13 × 10 alpha lat...

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), is an important staple crop for about 800 million people worldwide, and a key commodity for the starch industry. However, the potential cassava production is limited by several biotic constraints amongst which cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) is the most economically important disease in Africa. To date, the m...

Introduction In the face of climate changes and limited water availability for irrigated crop production, enhanced drought tolerance and adaptation is vital to improve wheat productivity. The objective of this study was to determine the responses of newly bred and advanced mutant lines of wheat based on agronomic traits and biomass allocation under...

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) is a drought-resilient and nutritious staple food crop widely cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions. Worldwide, pearl millet is ranked the 6th most widely produced cereal crop after wheat, rice, maize, barley, and sorghum, with a total production of 30.5 million tons on 32.1 million hectares. In Burk...

Gene banking is the most cost-effective ex situ strategy for conserving plant genetic resources. It was developed for the storage of predominantly orthodox seeds. To maintain long-term seed survival and integrity of the conserved germplasm in the genebanks, seed viability testing and regeneration should be done occasionally. The seed viability test...

Field assessments of crop water use efficiency (WUE) are resource‐consuming since they require simultaneous assessment of the total amount of water assimilated by crops for biomass and/or grain production. Alternative methods exist, such as estimating the carbon isotopic ratio ( ¹³ C/ ¹² C) of the crop's leaf, aboveground biomass, or grain samples....

Tepary bean ( Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray ) cultivation is not expansive in Southern Africa due to the unavailability of high-yielding and locally adapted varieties. To deliver well-adapted and new-generation tepary beans in Africa, pre-breeding and breeding of drought tolerant and high-yielding varieties is a critical need. Therefore, the object...

The breeding stages of a clonally propagated crop entails several steps and can take more than five years from hybridisation till cultivar release. The Accelerated Breeding Scheme (ABS) in sweetpotato relies on the use of multiple locations at the early breeding stages to reduce the years required for field evaluation. The aim of the study was to s...

In the majority of plant biotechnology laboratories throughout the world, plant transformation is a common practice to improve several traits of plants, particularly grain yield. During the experiments, only a small percentage of cells transform in the targeted population. For selection of transformed cells, it is necessary to use the selectable ma...

In the majority of plant biotechnology laboratories throughout the world, plant transformation is a common practice to improve several traits of plants, particularly grain yield. During the experiments, only a small percentage of cells transform in the targeted population. For selection of transformed cells, it is necessary to use the selectable ma...

Genetic resources of tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray) germplasm collections are not well characterized due to a lack of dedicated genomic resources. There is a need to assemble genomic resources specific to tepary bean for germplasm characterization, heterotic grouping, and breeding. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to deduce...

Induced plant mutagenesis is a powerful technique to create genetic variation for agronomic traits and drought tolerance selection programs. The objective of this study was to determine the response of elite sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) lines developed via gamma-radiation for grain yield, component traits, and drought tolerance to select b...

This policy brief recommends three strategies for more effectively investing in smallholder-centred research and innovation that advance climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture. https://unfoundation.org/what-we-do/issues/climate-and-energy/empower-climate-resilient-smallholder-agriculture-by-investing-in-african-research-and-innovation/

Soil salinity is one of the most devastating environmental stresses, causing a significant reduction in cultivable land worldwide. Salinity restricts the growth, development, and yield of plants. In response to salinity, plants alter their morpho-physiological, biochemical and molecular responses. Under salt stress, plants, including wheat, employ...

Identification of maize germplasm with dual resistance to Striga hermonthica (Sh) and S. asiatica (Sa) , could lead to the development of cultivars with stable resistance. 130 tropical and sub-tropical maize germplasms were evaluated in a controlled environment for their reaction to Sh and Sa infestations using a 13x10 alpha lattice design with two...

Yield gains in crop plants, such as citron watermelon can be realised through combining ability tests and hybrid breeding. The objective of the study was to determine the combining ability and hybrid performance of citron watermelon genotypes for agronomic traits. Five contrasting and relatively high-yielding citron watermelon genotypes were crosse...

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) is a nutrient-dense, relatively drought-tolerant cereal crop cultivated in dry regions worldwide. The crop is under-researched, and its grain yield is low (< 0.8 tons ha⁻¹) and stagnant in the major production regions, including Burkina Faso. The low productivity of pearl millet is mainly attributable t...

Bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.]) is a relatively drought-tolerant cucurbit due to the high composition of unique biochemical compositions, including cucurbitacin. The objective of this study was to determine the concentrations of cucurbitacins in bottle gourd and their relationship to drought tolerance. The study assessed 12 bot...

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations puts forward a transformational vision to cope with food security, nutrition, and health challenges, in which sweet potato can play an important role. Globally, sweet potato production is valued at $53.83 billion. The Agricultural Research Council of South Africa (ARC) sweet po...

Citation: Rani, R.; Arif, M.; Rahman, S.U.; Hammad, M.; Mukhtar, Z.; Rizwan, M.; Shimelis, H.; Raza, G. Abstract: Soybean is a short-day crop, and its sensitivity to photoperiod is an important trait for its adaptability. Rapid changes in the climate on a global scale could be a threat to future food security. There is a need to increase the heat t...

Cocoyams [taro: Colocasia esculentum (L.) Schott and tannia: Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott] are staple tuber crops in many countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. This review aims to present the value of cocoyam as a minor tuber crop and the extent and challenges of its production in Africa. Cocoyams are primarily grown for their edible c...

Pearl millet ( Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br., 2n = 2x = 14) is a nutrient-dense and climate-resilient crop widely cultivated in the dry regions of Africa and Asia. In Burkina Faso, the actual mean yield of the crop is < 1 ton/ha compared with a potential yield of 3 tons/ha. Several constraints, including cultivar susceptibility to the noxious weed...

In Kenya, plant genetic resources are mainly conserved by Genetic Resources Research Institute (GeRRI). The institute (formerly known as the National Genebank of Kenya) has to date amassed slightly over 51,000 (fifty-one thousand) accessions. Recently, GeRRI sought to forestall loss of germplasm in the hands of plant breeders/researchers from vario...

Drought is one of the major constraints of wheat production, especially in rainfed wheat production systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different silicon fertilizer formulations on the agronomic performance of diverse wheat genotypes under drought-stressed conditions. Twenty wheat genotypes were evaluated in field an...

Bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.] is cultivated for multiple utilities, including as a leafy vegetable, for fresh and dried fruits and seeds. It is an under-researched and-utilized crop, and modern varieties are yet to be developed and deployed in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). There is a dire need for pre-breeding and breeding of bott...

Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) is one of the most significant crops in the world in terms of oil and protein. Owing to the rising demand for soybean products, there is an increasing need for improved varieties for more productive farming. However, complex correlation patterns among quantitative traits along with genetic interactions pose a challe...

The authors would like to make the following corrections about the published paper [...]

Increasing biomass allocation to the root system may increase soil-organic carbon stocks and confer drought adaptation in water-limited environments. Understanding the genetic bases and inheritance of biomass allocation is fundamental for drought tolerance breeding and soil health. The objective of this study was to determine the general and specif...

Assessing the genetic diversity and population structure of cultivated sorghum is important for heterotic grouping, breeding population development, marker-assisted cultivar development, and release. The objectives of the present study were to assess the genetic diversity and deduce the population structure of 200 sorghum accessions using diversity...

Maize is a commodity crop providing millions of people with food, feed, industrial raw material and economic opportunities. However, maize yields in Africa are relatively stagnant and low, at a mean of 1.7 t ha−1 compared with the global average of 6 t ha−1. The yield gap can be narrowed with accelerated and precision breeding strategies that are r...

Sorghum is the most popular crop in arid and semi-arid areas, especially in Sub-Saharan African countries. Genotype effects, environmental and the interaction of genotype by environmental factors have an influence on phenotypic traits. The aim of the study is to identify the relationship between grain yield and other yield-related traits and select...

Induced plant mutagenesis is a powerful technique to create genetic variation for agronomic traits and drought tolerance selection programs. The objective of this study was to determine the response of elite sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) lines developed via gamma-radiation for grain yield and component traits, and drought tolerance to selec...

Soybean (Glycine max) is an important legume that is used to fulfill the need of protein and oil of large number of population across the world. There are large numbers of soybean germplasm present in the USDA germplasm resources. Finding and understanding genetically diverse germplasm is a top priority for crop improvement programs. The current st...

Sweet watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus) grafting with complementary rootstocks is necessary for new variety design and to enhance product profiles, including fruit yield and quality and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses.. Integrated selection of successful watermelon grafts using multiple traits ensures breeding and economic gains....

The potential yield of maize (Zea mays L.) and other major crops is curtailed by several biotic, abiotic, and socio-economic constraints. Parasitic weeds, Striga spp., are major constraints to cereal and legume crop production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Yield losses reaching 100% are reported in maize under severe Striga infestation. Breeding for...

Powdery mildew (PM) of wheat caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici is among the most important wheat diseases, causing significant yield and quality losses in many countries worldwide. Considerable progress has been made in resistance breeding to mitigate powdery mildew. Genetic host resistance employs either race-specific (qualitative) resist...

Maize cultivars with resistance to Striga spp. and compatible to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. strigae ( FOS ) are an economical, sustainable and environmentally Striga control option. This study's objective was to determine the type and magnitude of gene action controlling grain yield and yield‐related components, Striga resistance, FOS compatibility a...

The transfer of atmospheric carbon (C) in soils is a possible strategy for climate change mitigation and for restoring land productivity. While some studies have compared the ability of existing crops to allocate C into the soil, the genetic variations between crop genotypes have received less attention. The objective of this study was to compare t...

The parasitic weed, Striga species, is among the major causes of yield and quality losses of cereal and legume crops in sub-Saharan Africa. The development of nutritionally enhanced genetic resources with Striga resistance is an overriding consideration in sorghum breeding programs. The objective of this study was to determine the genetic variabili...

Physiological and complementary phenotypic traits are essential in the selection of drought-adapted crop genotypes. Understanding the physiological response of diverse okra genotypes under drought stress conditions is critical to the selection of drought-tolerant accessions for production or breeding. The objective of this study was to assess the l...

Data analysis using the General linear model assumes the factors to be fixed effects, and the BLUE method, which is based on their mean performance, is appropriate to select the best performing genotypes. The linear mixed model incorporates fixed and random effects that are very important to compare a genotype’s performance through BLUP. The purpos...

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is the main food staple for millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Asia. Sorghum is relatively drought tolerant and cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions under rain-fed production. However, severe drought stress often leads to crop loss and declined productivity. The development and deployment of...

Parasitic Striga weeds severely damage cereal crops in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), leading to yield losses in susceptible varieties. A range of Striga control methods are commonly recommended, including cultural practices, chemical herbicides, biological control agents, and host resistance, either as solo treatments or in combinations of these approa...

The soybean yield is a complex quantitative trait that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. G × E interaction (GEI), which derives the performance of soybean genotypes differentially in various environmental conditions, is one of the main obstacles to increasing the net production. The primary goal of this study is to identify the...

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L., 2n=4×=48) is one of the strategic staple crops in Africa for food and income security. Potato production has grown fast in Africa due to population growth, urbanization, and life style changes. The objective of this chapter is to provide a general overview of the current status of potato production and its challenges i...