Determination of Striga-Resistance in Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata L. Walp) Using Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) Markers

Undergraduate #1
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: Biochemistry (not Cell and Molecular Biology and Genetics)

Tosin Ajisebutu - Howard University
Co-Author(s): Aaron Asare, University of Cape Coast, Ghana; Peter Haruna, University of Cape Coast, Joshua Asiamah, University of Cape Coast, Ghana; Daniel Asante, University of Cape Coast, Ghana

---

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is the most important food legume in sub-Saharan Africa. The crop flourishes in the dry savannah Northern regions of Ghana. However, Striga gesnerioides is a constraint to cowpea cultivation in the major production areas of the savannah regions of the Upper East, Upper West, and Northern regions of Ghana. The conventional approach to controlling the parasitic weed is expensive and unreliable. This warrant the identification of resistant genotypes using DNA marker-assisted selection protocol. Leaf samples from 7 day old cowpea seedlings were pressed onto the Fast Technology for Analysis (FTA) card and processed to isolate genomic DNA of 14 cowpea genotypes. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification protocol was used to amplify C42-2B and 61RM2 SSR markers across the genome of 14 different cowpea genotypes. The products were resolved in 2% agarose gel electrophoresis and photodocumented. Polymorphic single DNA bands and double bands associated with Striga-resistance were expressed. On the whole 64.3 % out of the 14 cowpea genotypes had the Striga-resistant C42-2B and 61RM2 markers present and selected as candidates for Striga- resistance. These can be incorporated into breeding to develop more improved Striga-resistant varieties of cowpea in Ghana to meet consumer preference.

Tosin Abstract- Conference.docx

Funder Acknowledgement(s): Gear-Up is an amazing study that was supported, in part, by a grant from the National Science Foundation awarded to Lorraine Fleming, Ph.D., Wayne Patterson, Ph.D. and Mohamed Chouikha, Ph.D., Principal and Co-Principal Investigators of the Global Education, Awareness and Research Undergraduate Program (GEAR UP), Howard University, Washington, DC 20059. Much appreciation goes to the founders of this enriching program and the phenomenal benefits it provides

Faculty Advisor: Aaron Asare, aasare@ucc.edu.gh

Role: I worked side by side with my mentors Aaron Asare, Peter Haruna, and Joshua Asiamah at the University of Cape Coast. I worked on planting the various genotypes of the cowpea plants, extracted the DNA of the various genotypes, ran a PCR and Gel Electrophoresis.