Browsing by Author "Maria Balota"

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    Exploration of Alternative Approaches to Phenotyping of Late Leaf Spot and Groundnut Rosette Virus Disease for Groundnut Breeding
    (Frontiers in Plant Science, 2022-06-14) Ivan Chapu; David Kalule Okello; Robert C. Ongom Okello; Thomas Lapaka Odong; Sayantan Sarka; Maria Balota
    Late leaf spot (LLS), caused by Nothopassalora personata (Berk. & M.A Curt.), and groundnut rosette disease (GRD), [caused by groundnut rosette virus (GRV)], represent the most important biotic constraints to groundnut production in Uganda. Application of visual scores in selection for disease resistance presents a challenge especially when breeding experiments are large because it is resource-intensive, subjective, and error- prone. High-throughput phenotyping (HTP) can alleviate these constraints. The objective of this study is to determine if HTP derived indices can replace visual scores in a groundnut breeding program in Uganda. Fifty genotypes were planted under rain-fed conditions at two locations, Nakabango (GRD hotspot) and NaSARRI (LLS hotspot). Three handheld sensors (RGB camera, GreenSeeker, and Thermal camera) were used to collect HTP data on the dates visual scores were taken. Pearson correlation was made between the indices and visual scores, and logistic models for predicting visual scores were developed. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (r = –0.89) and red-green-blue (RGB) color space indices CSI (r = 0.76), v∗ (r = –0.80), and b∗ (r = –0.75) were highly correlated with LLS visual scores. NDVI (r = –0.72), v∗ (r = –0.71), b∗ (r = –0.64), and GA (r = –0.67) were best related to the GRD visual symptoms. Heritability estimates indicated NDVI, green area (GA), greener area (GGA), a∗, and hue angle having the highest heritability (H2 > 0.75). Logistic models developed using these indices were 68% accurate for LLS and 45% accurate for GRD. The accuracy of the models improved to 91 and 84% when the nearest score method was used for LLS and GRD, respectively. Results presented in this study indicated that use of handheld remote sensing tools can improve screening for GRD and LLS resistance, and the best associated indices can be used for indirect selection for resistance and improve genetic gain in groundnut breeding.
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    Multi-locus genome-wide association studies reveal genomic regions and putative candidate genes associated with leaf spot diseases in African groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) germplasm
    (2023-01-05) Richard Oteng-Frimpong; Benjamin Karikari; Emmanuel Kofi Sie; Yussif Baba Kassim; Doris Kanvenaa Puozaa; Masawudu Abdul Rasheed; Daniel Fonceka; David Kallule Okello; Maria Balota; Mark Burow; Peggy Ozias-Akins
    Early leaf spot (ELS) and late leaf spot (LLS) diseases are the two most destructive groundnut diseases in Ghana resulting in ≤ 70% yield losses which is controlled largely by chemical method. To develop leaf spot resistant varieties, the present study was undertaken to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and putative candidate genes underlying both ELS and LLS. In this study, six multi-locus models of genome-wide association study were conducted with the best linear unbiased predictor obtained from 294 African groundnut germplasm screened for ELS and LLS as well as image-based indices of leaf spot diseases severity in 2020 and 2021 and 8,772 high-quality SNPs from a 48 K SNP array Axiom platform. Ninety-seven SNPs associated with ELS, LLS and five image-based indices across the chromosomes in the 2 two sub-genomes. From these, twenty-nine unique SNPs were detected by at least two models for one or more traits across 16 chromosomes with explained phenotypic variation ranging from 0.01 - 62.76%, with exception of chromosome (Chr) 08 (Chr08), Chr10, Chr11, and Chr19. Seventeen potential candidate genes were predicted at ± 300 kbp of the stable/prominent SNP positions (12 and 5, down- and upstream, respectively). The results from this study provide a basis for understanding the genetic architecture of ELS and LLS diseases in African groundnut germplasm, and the associated SNPs and predicted candidate genes would be valuable for breeding leaf spot diseases resistant varieties upon further validation.