Goals

The goal of the project is to reduce the labor and environmental impact of staking yams by developing semi-dwarf varieties through gene editing

Expected results

1. Target genes associated with yams’ growth habit, including those responsible for vine elongation and internode development, were identified for editing to facilitate the development of semi-dwarf yam varieties.
2. Gene editing constructs available for developing semi-dwarf yams.
3. Efficiency for the transformation and gene editing of yams improved.
4. Gene editing tools such as FULCRUM technology have been established for editing of yams.
5. Semi-dwarf gene-edited events of yams have been developed.
6. Gene-edited yams evaluated for semi-dwarf trait in greenhouse conditions.
7. Gene-edited yam events available to integrate into the existing breeding program at IITA.
8. Information on labor requirements and dynamics in yam cultivation in Nigeria, particularly concerning the introduction of dwarf varieties of yam that do not require staking available.