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Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice)

Rice Biodiversity Centre for Africa

Most of the world considers rice Asian in origin, but rice also has deep African roots. While Oryza sativa was domesticated in Asia, the only other domesticated species, O. glaberrima, is African rice.

A genebank worker takes seed packets to the shelves in the new AfricaRice genebank in Mbe. Photo: Neil Palmer/Crop Trust

AfricaRice’s genebank currently contains almost 22,000 accessions, 85% of which originated in Africa. In addition to the two cultivated rice species, these include the five African crop wild relatives. Long-term conservation is carried out at its new genebank at Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire.

Characterisation and evaluation of crop diversity are major activities at AfricaRice, with special attention being given to screening for resistance to major diseases and environmental stresses. As a result, genes for resistance to diseases and pests such as rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV), blast and African rice gall midge are now identified. The GRU is collaborating in studies to use high-throughput precision phenotyping to identify further useful traits. Early flowering and tolerance of stagnant flooding are traits that are also being explored in the collections.

Other important activities include the restoration of lost crop diversity to countries affected by war, provision of conservation services to NARS, and training and capacity building.

A formal germplasm health unit is in the process of being set up.

Key Staff

Genebank Manager: Marie-Noelle Ndjiondjop
Key staff: Genebank researchers: Fatima Bachabi, Dro Daniel Tia, Goungoulou Alphonse Junior, Kpeki Bienvenu.

Rice

Key performance indicators of CGIAR genebanks, 2012-2021

HINT: Use the search key to filter the data. For descriptions of performance indicators, click here.
Indicator 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
1. Total number of accessions 19,983 19,983 19,954 21,300 21,300 21,300 21,300 21,815 19,699
2. Total number of accessions that are currently available 14,000 15,596 16,371 17,969 18,889 19,421 14,009 15,452 16,807
3. Number of seed accessions 19,983 19,983 19,954 21,300 21,300 21,300 21,300 21,815 19,699
4. Number of vegetatively-propagated accessions 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5. Number of live plant accessions 0 0 0 0 0 0
6. Number of seed accessions held in long-term storage and safety duplicated at two levels 5,382 5,536 8,046 10,453 13,144 13,144 13,748 15,830 17,933
7. Number of vegetatively-propagated accessions in cryopreservation or safety duplicated as in vitro 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8. Number of wild species accessions 130 130 30 40 40

Genebank operations, 2012-2021

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Indicator 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
1. Number of accessions with passport & characterization data available . . . . . . . 21,300 21,300 21,815
2. Number accessions received 451 244 871 127 171 0 24 733 23 492
3. Number accessions regenerated 237 1,818 1,597 712 164 920 532 0 2,936 2,039
4. Number accessions multiplied 1,800 735 1,412 2,086 4,136 718 3,700 4,629 8,726 3,287
5. Number accessions health tested 450 595 547 1,276 700 1,064 1,705 359 91 3,287
6. Number accessions cleaned 450 595 547 1,276 700 0 0 2,000 2,482 1,780
7. Number accessions viability tested 1,200 2,500 3,596 6,984 6,972 4,075 1,730 9,992 8,956 8,387

Number of samples distributed to users within and outside the CGIAR, 2012-2021

HINT: Use the search key to filter the data. For descriptions of performance indicators, click here.
Indicator 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
1. Total number external germplasm requests 97 86 90 76 16 22 23 25 43
2. Number of samples distributed within the CGIAR 8,149 11,389 1,073 3,682 396 959 2,996 2,349 938
3. Number of samples distributed outside the CGIAR 5,400 9,146 868 721 631 446 501 703 2,078
4. Total number of samples distributed 13,549 20,535 1,941 4,403 1,027 1,405 3,497 3,052 3,016
5. Number of accessions distributed within the CGIAR 4,370 1,802 941 2,892 396 951 1,757 1,635 925
6. Number of accessions distributed outside the CGIAR 2,072 3,935 378 491 631 277 501 697 2,078
7. Total number of accessions distributed 6,442 5,737 1,319 3,383 1,027 1,229 2,258 2,332 3,003
8. Total number of accessions distributed outside the CGIAR with SMTA 631 277 501 697 2,078
9. Total number of unique accessions distributed outside the CGIAR with SMTA 631 208 474 614 2,078

Genebank Platform publications, 2017-2020

Recent publications with at least one CGIAR genebank staff as author. HINT: Use the search key to filter the data.
Authors Article title Publication name URL
Cubry, P., Tranchant-Dubreuil, C., Thuillet, A.-C., Monat C., Ndjiondjop, M.-N., Labadie, K., Cruaud, C., Engelen, S., Scarcelli, N., Rhoné, B., Burgarella, C., Dupuy, C., Larmande, P., Wincker, P., François, O., Sabot, F., Vigouroux, Y. The rise and fall of African rice cultivation revealed by analysis of 246 new genomes. Current Biology READ
Lv, S., Wu, W., Wang, M., Meyer, R.S., Ndjiondjop, M.-N., Tan, L., Zhou, H., Zhang, J., Fu, Y., Cai, H., Sun, C., Wing, R.A., Zhu, Z. Genetic control of seed shattering during African rice domestication. Nature Plant READ
Ndjiondjop, M.N., Alachiotis, N., Pavlidis, P., Goungoulou, A., Kpeki, S.B., Zhao, D., Semagn, K. Comparisons of molecular diversity indices, selective sweeps and population structure of African rice with its wild progenitor and Asian rice. Theoretical and Applied Genetics: International Journal of Plant Breeding Research READ
Ndjiondjop, M.N., Semagn, K., Sow, M., Manneh, B., Gouda,A.C., Kpeki, S.B., Pegalepo, E., Wambugu, P., Sie, M., Warburton, M.L. Assessment of genetic variation and population structure of diverse rice genotypes adapted to lowland and upland ecologies in africa using SNPs. Frontiers in Plant Science READ
Ndjiondjop, M.N., Semagn, K., Zhang, J., Gouda, A.C., Kpeki, S.B., Goungoulou, A., Wambugu, P., Dramé, K.N., Bimpong, I.K., Zhao, D. Development of species diagnostic SNP markers for quality control genotyping in four rice (Oryza L.) species. Molecular breeding : new strategies in plant improvement READ
Shaibu, A.A., Uguru, M.I., Sow, M., Maji, A.T., Ndjiondjop, M.N., Venuprasad, R. Screening African rice (Oryza glaberrima) for tolerance to abiotic stresses: II lowland drought. Crop Science READ
Ndjiondjop, M.N., Wambugu, P., Sangare, J., Gnikoua, K. The effects of drought on rice cultivation in sub-Saharan Africa and its mitigation: A review. African Journal of Agricultural Research READ
Ndjiondjop, M.N., Alachiotis, N., Pavlidis, P. ,Goungoulou A, Kpeki SB., Zhao D, Semagn K Comparisons of molecular diversity indices, selective sweeps and population structure of African rice with its wild progenitor and Asian rice. Theoretical and Applied Genetics: International Journal of Plant Breeding Research READ
Monat, C., Pera, B., Ndjiondjop, M.N., Sow, M., Tranchant-Dubreuil, C., Bastianelli, L., Ghesquière, A., Sabot, F. De novo assemblies of three Oryza glaberrima accessions provide first insights about pangenome of African rice. Genome Biology and Evolution Advance READ
Kam, H., Ndjiondjop, M.N., Sanou, J., Sow, M., Ouedraogo, I., Laing, M. Diversity assessment and geographical variability of rice landraces collected from Burkina Faso. International Journal of Development and Sustainability READ
Kam, K., Ndjiondjop, M.N., Liang, M.D., Ahmadi, N. Molecular characterisation and diversity analysis of burkina faso rice landraces using 23 microsatellite markers and establishment of a core collection. International Journal of Current Research READ
Ndjiondjop, M.N., Semagn, K., Gouda, A.C., Kpeki, S.B., Dro Tia, D., Sow, M., Goungoulou, A., Sie, M., Perrier, X., Ghesquiere, A., Warburton, M.L. Genetic variation and population structure of oryza glaberrima and development of a mini-core collection using DArTseq. Frontiers in PLant Science READ
Ndjiondjop et al. Comparisons of molecular diversity indices, selective sweeps and population structure of African rice with its wild progenitor and Asian rice Theoretical and Applied Genetics READ
Agbeleye et al. Screening african rice (O. glaberrima steud.) for tolerance to abiotic stress. III. flooding Sabrao Journal of Breeding and Genetics READ
Arnaud Comlan Gouda, Ndjiondjop MN, Gustave L. Djedatin, Marilyn L. Warburton, Alphonse Goungoulou, Sèdjro Bienvenu Kpeki, Amidou N’Diaye & Kassa Semagn Comparisons of sampling methods for assessing intra- and inter-accession genetic diversity in three rice species using genotyping by sequencing Scientific reports Scientific Reports READ
Halewood, Michael, Nelissa Jamora, Isabel Noriega, Noelle Anglin, Peter Wenzl, Thomas Payne, Marie-Noelle Ndjiondjop, Luigi Guarino, P. Kumar, Mariana Yazbek, Alice Muchugi, Vania Azevedo, Marimagne Tchamba, Chris Jones, Ramaiah Venuprasad, Nicolas Roux, Germplasm Acquisition and Distribution by CGIAR Genebanks Plants READ
McCouch, S. , Navabi, K. , Abberton, M. , Anglin, N. L. , Barbieri, R. L.* , Baum, M. , Bett, K. , Booker, H. , Brown, G. L. , Bryan, G. L. , Cattivelli, L. , Charest, D. , Eversole, K. , Freitas, M. , Ghamkhar, K. , Grattapaglia, D.* , Henry, R. , Inglis Mobilizing Crop Biodiversity Molecular Plant READ
Hayba Badro,Marie-Noelle Ndjiondjop, Agnelo Furtado & Robert Henry. SNPs linked to key traits in interspecific crosses between African and Asian rice Plants READ
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