{"id":36285,"date":"2026-11-13T18:40:44","date_gmt":"2026-11-13T18:40:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iita.org\/?post_type=news-item&p=36285"},"modified":"2026-11-13T18:42:07","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T18:42:07","slug":"decoding-yam-genetics-to-accelerate-crop-improvement-the-research-behind-paterne-agres-award","status":"publish","type":"news-item","link":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/news-item\/decoding-yam-genetics-to-accelerate-crop-improvement-the-research-behind-paterne-agres-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Decoding yam genetics to accelerate crop improvement: The research behind Paterne Agre\u2019s award"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Dr.
Dr. Agre, IITA yam breeder and winner of the 2026 Young Agricultural Researcher<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Developing improved yam varieties is a time-intensive process that involves identifying desirable traits, selecting superior breeding lines, and assessing their performance over several growing seasons. However, the scarcity of genomic resources has constrained breeders\u2019 ability to make precise, data-driven selection decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 At IITA<\/a>, Dr Sourou Angelot Paterne Agre<\/a> is helping to address this challenge by developing genetic resources and molecular tools to make yam breeding more precise and efficient. His contributions have earned him the 2026 Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers for his work on \u201cTransforming yam production in Africa through integrated breeding, genomics, and innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Dr Agre began working on yam nearly a decade ago, genomic resources for the crop were scarce. Working with IITA\u2019s yam breeding team and research partners, he contributes to research that expands scientists\u2019 understanding of yam\u2019s genetic diversity and has helped develop molecular markers linked to important agronomic and tuber-quality traits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building the genetic foundation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An important part of Dr Agre\u2019s work has involved investigating the genetic diversity and evolutionary origins of white Guinea yam, one of Africa\u2019s most important food crops. His contributions to studies published in Scientific Reports and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2020 helped strengthen the scientific foundation for understanding the crop\u2019s genetic variation and evolutionary history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This knowledge is important because genetic diversity provides raw material for crop improvement. Understanding the differences among yam varieties and their genetic characteristics can help breeders identify useful traits and make better-informed decisions when selecting materials for crossing and further evaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building on this foundation, Dr Agre also contributed to the development of KASP molecular markers, described in a 2024 \u00e9tudier<\/a> published in The Plant Genome. These markers help translate genomic information into practical tools for routine breeding by enabling scientists to identify genetic variations associated with desirable traits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By complementing conventional field evaluations with genetic information, the markers provide breeders with additional tools to screen plant materials, identify promising candidates, and make more targeted selection decisions. This can improve the efficiency of breeding programs by helping scientists narrow down the materials requiring further evaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lire la suite<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Developing improved yam varieties is a time-intensive process that involves identifying desirable traits, selecting superior breeding lines, and assessing their 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