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Crop Diversification Through a Wider Use of Underutilised Crops: A Strategy to Ensure Food and Nutrition Security in the Face of Climate Change (2019)
Book Chapter
Mustafa, M. A., Mayes, S., & Massawe, F. (2019). Crop Diversification Through a Wider Use of Underutilised Crops: A Strategy to Ensure Food and Nutrition Security in the Face of Climate Change. In A. Sarkar, S. Sensarma, & G. vanLoon (Eds.), Sustainable Solutions for Food Security: Combating Climate Change by Adaptation (125-149). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77878-5_7

© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019. Global dependence on only a few crops for food and non-food uses is risky due to the multifaceted challenges that crop production faces. One such challenge is climate change and its effects on food production. E... Read More about Crop Diversification Through a Wider Use of Underutilised Crops: A Strategy to Ensure Food and Nutrition Security in the Face of Climate Change.

Bambara Groundnut is a Climate-Resilient Crop: How Could a Drought-Tolerant and Nutritious Legume Improve Community Resilience in the Face of Climate Change? (2019)
Book Chapter
Feldman, A., Ho, W. K., Massawe, F., & Mayes, S. (2019). Bambara Groundnut is a Climate-Resilient Crop: How Could a Drought-Tolerant and Nutritious Legume Improve Community Resilience in the Face of Climate Change?. In A. Sarkar, S. Sensarma, & G. vanLoon (Eds.), Sustainable Solutions for Food Security: Combating Climate Change by Adaptation (150-167). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77878-5_8

Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.; www.bamyield.org) is a crop similar in morphology and growth habit to groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). It was also historically largely displaced by groundnut upon the latter’s introduction to sub-Sah... Read More about Bambara Groundnut is a Climate-Resilient Crop: How Could a Drought-Tolerant and Nutritious Legume Improve Community Resilience in the Face of Climate Change?.

The draft genomes of five agriculturally important African orphan crops (2018)
Journal Article
Chang, Y., Liu, H., Liu, M., Liao, X., Sahu, S. K., Fu, Y., …Liu, X. (2019). The draft genomes of five agriculturally important African orphan crops. GigaScience, 8(3), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1093/gigascience/giy152

Background: Continuous growth of the world population is expected to double the worldwide demand for food by 2050. Eighty-eight percent of countries current face a serious burden of malnutrition, especially in Africa and South and South-East Asia. Ab... Read More about The draft genomes of five agriculturally important African orphan crops.

Putative regulatory candidate genes for QTL linked to fruit traits in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) (2018)
Journal Article
Ting, N.-C., Mayes, S., Massawe, F., Sambanthamurthi, R., Jansen, J., Shahrul Rabiah Syed Alwee, S., …Singh, R. (2018). Putative regulatory candidate genes for QTL linked to fruit traits in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.). Euphytica, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-018-2296-y

Palm oil is among the most important vegetable oils, contributing to a quarter of the world’s oils and fats market. The oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) fruitlets, which are the source of palm oil, vary from 8eight to 20 g in weight. Palm oil conte... Read More about Putative regulatory candidate genes for QTL linked to fruit traits in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.).

Plant Rabs and the role in fruit ripening (2018)
Journal Article
Lawson, T., Mayes, S., Lycett, G. W., & Chin, C. F. (2018). Plant Rabs and the role in fruit ripening. Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Reviews, 34(2), 181-197. https://doi.org/10.1080/02648725.2018.1482092

Fruit ripening is a complex developmental process that involves the synthesis and modification of the cell wall leading up to the formation of an edible fruit. During the period of fruit ripening, new cell wall polymers and enzymes are synthesized an... Read More about Plant Rabs and the role in fruit ripening.

Evaluation of methods and marker systems in genomic selection of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) (2017)
Journal Article
Kwong, Q. B., Teh, C. K., Ong, A. L., Chew, F. T., Mayes, S., Kulaveerasingam, H., …Harikrishna, J. A. (2017). Evaluation of methods and marker systems in genomic selection of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.). BMC Genetics, 18(1), https://doi.org/10.1186/s12863-017-0576-5

Background Genomic selection (GS) uses genome-wide markers as an attempt to accelerate genetic gain in breeding programs of both animals and plants. This approach is particularly useful for perennial crops such as oil palm, which have long breedin... Read More about Evaluation of methods and marker systems in genomic selection of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.).

High density SNP and DArT-based genetic linkage maps of two closely related oil palm populations (2017)
Journal Article
Gan, S. T., Wong, W. C., Wong, C. K., Soh, A. C., Kilian, A., Low, E.-T. L., …Mayes, S. (in press). High density SNP and DArT-based genetic linkage maps of two closely related oil palm populations. Journal of Applied Genetics, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13353-017-0420-7

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is an outbreeding perennial tree crop with long breeding cycles, typically 12 years. Molecular marker technologies can greatly improve the breeding efficiency of oil palm. This study reports the first use of the DAr... Read More about High density SNP and DArT-based genetic linkage maps of two closely related oil palm populations.

Microsatellite analysis of populations of the endangered tree Gomortega keule suggests pre-Columbian differentiation (2017)
Journal Article
Munoz-Concha, D., Davey, M. R., Ribas, G., & Mayes, S. (in press). Microsatellite analysis of populations of the endangered tree Gomortega keule suggests pre-Columbian differentiation. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 55(3), https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2017.1343737

Temperate forests have been affected extensively by human activities, resulting in land cover changes and population fragmentation. However, these anthropogenic effects can be superimposed onto the natural history of species, making it difficult to d... Read More about Microsatellite analysis of populations of the endangered tree Gomortega keule suggests pre-Columbian differentiation.

Differential gene expression at different stages of mesocarp development in high- and low-yielding oil palm (2017)
Journal Article
Wong, Y. C., Teh, H. F., Mebus, K., Ooi, T. E. K., Kwong, Q. B., Koo, K. L., …Kulaveerasingam, H. (2017). Differential gene expression at different stages of mesocarp development in high- and low-yielding oil palm. BMC Genomics, 18(1), Article 470. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-017-3855-7

Background The oil yield trait of oil palm is expected to involve multiple genes, environmental influences and interactions. Many of the underlying mechanisms that contribute to oil yield are still poorly understood. In this study, we used a micro... Read More about Differential gene expression at different stages of mesocarp development in high- and low-yielding oil palm.

Characterizing haploinsufficiency of SHELL gene to improve fruit form prediction in introgressive hybrids of oil palm (2017)
Journal Article
Teh, C. K., Muaz, S. D., Tangaya, P., Fong, P.-Y., Ong, A. L., Mayes, S., …Appleton, D. R. (in press). Characterizing haploinsufficiency of SHELL gene to improve fruit form prediction in introgressive hybrids of oil palm. Scientific Reports, 7(1), https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-03225-7

The fundamental trait in selective breeding of oil palm (Eleais guineensis Jacq.) is the shell thickness surrounding the kernel. The monogenic shell thickness is inversely correlated to mesocarp thickness, where the crude palm oil accumulates. Commer... Read More about Characterizing haploinsufficiency of SHELL gene to improve fruit form prediction in introgressive hybrids of oil palm.

Genomic selection in commercial perennial crops: applicability and improvement in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) (2017)
Journal Article
Kwong, Q. B., Ong, A. L., Teh, C. K., Chew, F. T., Tammi, M., Mayes, S., …Appleton, D. R. (in press). Genomic selection in commercial perennial crops: applicability and improvement in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.). Scientific Reports, 7, Article 2872. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-02602-6

Genomic selection (GS) uses genome-wide markers to select individuals with the desired overall combination of breeding traits. A total of 1,218 individuals from a commercial population of Ulu Remis x AVROS (UR x AVROS) were genotyped using the OP20... Read More about Genomic selection in commercial perennial crops: applicability and improvement in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.).

A cross-species gene expression marker-based genetic map and QTL analysis in bambara groundnut (2017)
Journal Article
Chai, H., Ho, W., Graham, N., May, S., Massawe, F., & Mayes, S. (2017). A cross-species gene expression marker-based genetic map and QTL analysis in bambara groundnut. Genes, 8(3), https://doi.org/10.3390/genes8020084

Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) is an underutilised legume crop, which has long been recognised as a protein-rich and drought-tolerant crop, used extensively in Sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of the study was to identify quantitative t... Read More about A cross-species gene expression marker-based genetic map and QTL analysis in bambara groundnut.

Identifying seedling root architectural traits associated with yield and yield components in wheat (2017)
Journal Article
Xie, Q., Fernando, K., Mayes, S., & Sparkes, D. L. (in press). Identifying seedling root architectural traits associated with yield and yield components in wheat. Annals of Botany, 119(7), https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcx001

Background and Aims: Plant roots growing underground are critical for soil resource acquisition, anchorage and plant-environment interactions. In wheat (Triticum aestivum), however, the target root traits to improve yield potential still remain large... Read More about Identifying seedling root architectural traits associated with yield and yield components in wheat.

Image-based 3D canopy reconstruction to determine potential productivity in complex multi-species crop systems (2017)
Journal Article
Burgess, A. J., Retkute, R., Pound, M. P., Mayes, S., & Murchie, E. H. (2017). Image-based 3D canopy reconstruction to determine potential productivity in complex multi-species crop systems. Annals of Botany, 119(4), 517-532. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcw242

Background and Aims: Intercropping systems contain two or more species simultaneously in close proximity. Due to contrasting features of the component crops, quantification of the light environment and photosynthetic productivity is extremely difficu... Read More about Image-based 3D canopy reconstruction to determine potential productivity in complex multi-species crop systems.

Preanthesis biomass accumulation of plant and plant organs defines yield components in wheat (2016)
Journal Article
Xie, Q., Mayes, S., & Sparkes, D. L. (2016). Preanthesis biomass accumulation of plant and plant organs defines yield components in wheat. European Journal of Agronomy, 81, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2016.08.007

The preanthesis period in wheat is critical for growth of plant organs including leaves, stems, spikes and roots. However, the roles of the preanthesis biomass accumulation of plant and plant organs in yield determination are only partially elucidate... Read More about Preanthesis biomass accumulation of plant and plant organs defines yield components in wheat.

Use of microsatellite markers for the assessment of bambara groundnut breeding system and varietal purity before genome sequencing (2016)
Journal Article

Maximizing the research output from a limited investment is often the major challenge for minor and underutilized crops. However, such crops may be tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses and are adapted to local, marginal, and low-input environments... Read More about Use of microsatellite markers for the assessment of bambara groundnut breeding system and varietal purity before genome sequencing.

Development and validation of a high-density SNP genotyping array for African Oil Palm (2016)
Journal Article
Kwong, Q. B., Teh, C. K., Ong, A. L., Heng, H. Y., Lee, H. L., Mohamed, M., …Appleton, D. R. (2016). Development and validation of a high-density SNP genotyping array for African Oil Palm. Molecular Plant, 9(8), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molp.2016.04.010

High-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping arrays are powerful tools that can measure the level of genetic polymorphism within a population. To develop a whole-genome SNP array for oil palms, SNP discovery was performed using deep r... Read More about Development and validation of a high-density SNP genotyping array for African Oil Palm.

Identification of novel quantitative trait loci for resistance to Fusarium seedling blight caused by Microdochium majus and M. nivale in wheat (2016)
Journal Article
Ren, R., Foulkes, J., Mayes, S., Yang, X., & Ray, R. V. (2016). Identification of novel quantitative trait loci for resistance to Fusarium seedling blight caused by Microdochium majus and M. nivale in wheat. Field Crops Research, 191, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2016.03.011

Microdochium nivale and Microdochium majus are important causal agents of Fusarium seedling blight (FSB) and Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat and other cereals worldwide. A doubled-haploid population derived from a cross between the winter wheat R... Read More about Identification of novel quantitative trait loci for resistance to Fusarium seedling blight caused by Microdochium majus and M. nivale in wheat.

Identification of gene modules associated with low temperatures response in Bambara groundnut by network-based analysis (2016)
Journal Article
Bonthala, V. S., Mayes, S., Moreton, J., Blythe, M. J., Wright, V., May, S., …Twycross, J. (2016). Identification of gene modules associated with low temperatures response in Bambara groundnut by network-based analysis. PLoS ONE, 11(2), Article e0148771. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0148771

Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) is an African legume and is a promising underutilized crop with good seed nutritional values. Low temperature stress in a number of African countries at night, such as Botswana, can effect the growth... Read More about Identification of gene modules associated with low temperatures response in Bambara groundnut by network-based analysis.