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This study aims to evaluate the biosafety and biosecurity engagements among workers in some selected institutional research laboratories in Abuja, Nigeria. A biosafety and biosecurity survey was carried out from October 2021 to March 2022 (6 months) among 280 workers such as laboratory technologists, veterinary clinicians in institutional research laboratories (Private and Public) in Abuja, research officers and graduate students. This study data was collected using a standardized and self-administered questionnaire that had 2 sections; Socio-Demographic and Criteria assessment (General knowledge on laboratory biosafety and biosecurity, Laboratory biosecurity Agenda, Laboratory Biosecurity Plan, Achieve Laboratory Biosafety, Attitude towards Laboratory Biosafety). The predictors of biosecurity and biosafety engagement effect on the workplace (Private or Public) was significant with Omnibus χ2 (5, N= 280) = 44.130, Hosmer-Lemeshow values χ2 40.954, DF=7, p< 0.05. The interaction (Sector*Biosafety level) effect [F (5, 266) =5.43, p

This study aims to evaluate the phytotoxicity effect in Erythrophleum suaveolens leaves extracts on germination and growth of Oba 98, Oba super 6, Samaz 52 and Sanaz 37 maize seeds varieties obtained from Abuja, Nigeria. The maize seeds were subjected to treatment with exposure to methanol and water extract of E. suaveolens in different concentrations of 100, 10 and 1% respectively. A control group was set up without treatment. Both treated and untreated seeds were planted in petri-dish in the laboratory and their germination and growth were monitored for 8 days. Germination was only experienced with the 1% methanol of the E. Suaveolens with a mean germination percentage of 33.33±28.87, mean radical length (mm) of 24.67±24.03 and mean plumule length (mm) of 13.33±12.22 treated Oba98 seeds. All other maize seeds germination was inhibited by the extracts used for the treatment. The control group germination and growth were not inhibited. The extract treatment shows a significant relationship with the three (3) parameters; germination percentage, radical and plumule length with F(6, 84) =7.833, 9.688 and 8.567 respectively at p

A new set of breeding techniques, referred to as New Breeding Techniques developed in the last two decades have potential for enhancing improved productivity in crop and animal breeding globally. These include site directed nucleases based genomic editing procedures-CRISPR and Cas associated proteins, Zinc Finger Nucleases, Meganucleases/Homing Endonucleases and Transcription- Activator Like-Effector Nucleases for genome editing and other technologies including- Oligonucleotide-Directed Mutagenesis, Cisgenesis and intragenesis, RNA-Dependent DNA methylation; Transgrafting, Agroinfiltration, Reverse breeding. There are ongoing global debates on whether the processes of and products emerging from these technologies should be regulated as genetically modified organisms or approved as conventional products. Decisions on whether to regulate as GMOs are based both on understanding of the molecular basis of their development and if the GMO intermediate step was used. For example- cisgenesis, can be developed using Agrobacterium tumefaciens methods of transformation, a process used by GMO but if the selection is properly conducted the intermediate GMO elements will be eliminated and the final product will be identical to the conventionally developed crops. Others like Site Directed Nuclease 3 are regulated as GMOs in countries such as United State of America, Canada, European Union, Argentina, Australia. Progress in genome editing research, testing of genome edited bacterial blight resistant rice, development of Guidelines for regulating new breeding techniques or genome editing in Africa is also covered with special reference to South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. Science- and evidence-based approach to regulation of new breeding techniques among regulators and policy makers should be strongly supported.

Rice is staple food in many countries of Africa and a major part of the diet in many others. However, Africa’s demand for rice exceeds production with the deficit of 40% being imported. One way to improve Africa’s rice production is through breeding high yielding varieties suitable for the different environment conditions. This study was conducted to assess the genetic variability and stability performance of 48 lowland rice genotypes including 37 interspecific (Oryza glaberrima × Oryza sativa ssp. indica) and 11 intraspecific (O. sativa ssp. indica × O. sativa ssp. indica) in 12 environments in Nigeria, Benin Republic and Togo using Additive Main Effect and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) and Genotype+ Genotype x Environment (GGE) biplot models. The combined analysis of variance revealed significant differences (P

Nitrogen’s dual effects as a critical nutrient input in rice production and a major environmental pollutant necessitate developing approaches that enhance Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE). As a staple crop in Nigeria, the development and release of NUE rice for commercial purposes, represent an important milestone in addressing food and nutrition security challenges in the country. An important step in the establishment of biosafety baseline for the Oryza sativa Antiquinin 1/Hordeum vulgare Alanine Amino Transferase (OsAnt1/HvAlaAT) transgenic rice grains with enhanced NUE, is the conduct of compositional assessment as part of the weight of evidence approach, for evaluating whether there were any unanticipated consequences of their genetic modification. In this study, proximates, minerals and amino acid profiles of two OsAnt1/HvAlaAT transgenic rice events, NUE9 and NUE12 in comparison to their non-genetically modified (GM) counterpart New Rice for Africa (NERICA) 4 were determined. Here, results show that while transgenic rice grains had significantly altered levels of crude protein, crude fat, microminerals and aminoacids compared to controls, they all did not deviate from biological ranges available in literature. Transgenics had crude protein at levels 119.4 - 140.5% and Iron at levels 23% - 67.3% higher than controls respectively. Conversely, levels of fats and Manganese were 57.6 – 73.7% and approximately 25% respectively lower in transgenics in comparison to controls. With regards to aminoacid profile, 77.3% of aminoacids were significantly more abundant in at least one transgenic as compared to controls. Taken together, the results from this study provide preliminary basis for establishing a biosafety baseline that present evidence on the safety of NUE currently subjected to backcrossing events in Nigeria. Furthermore, the results suggest that pOsAnt1/HvAlaAT transgenic lines may not only be more efficient in utilizing N but may also be more nutritious in comparison to non-transgenic varieties.

African countries face key challenges in the deployment of GM crops due to incongruities in the processes for effective and efficient commercial release while simultaneously ensuring food and environmental safety. Against the backdrop of the preceding scenario, and for the effective and efficient commercial release of GM crops for cultivation by farmers, while simultaneously ensuring food and environmental safety, there is a need for the close collaboration of and the interplay between the biosafety competent authorities and the variety release authorities. The commercial release of genetically modified (GM) crops for cultivation requires the approval of biosafety regulatory packages. The evaluation and approval of lead events fall under the jurisdiction of competent national authorities for biosafety (which may be ministries, autonomous authorities, or agencies). The evaluation of lead events fundamentally comprises a review of environmental, food, and feed safety data as provided for in the Biosafety Acts, implementing regulations, and, in some cases, the involvement of other relevant legal instruments. Although the lead GM event may be commercially released for farmers to cultivate, it is often introgressed into locally adapted and farmer preferred non-GM cultivars that are already released and grown by the farmers. The introduction of new biotechnology products to farmers is a process that includes comprehensive testing in the laboratory, greenhouse, and field over some time. The process provides answers to questions about the safety of the products before being introduced into the environment and marketplace. This is the first step in regulatory approvals. The output of the research and development phase of the product development cycle is the identification of a safe and best performing event for advancement to regulatory testing, likely commercialization, and general release. The process of the commercial release of new crop varieties in countries with established formal seed systems is guided by well-defined procedures and approval systems and regulated by the Seed Acts and implemented regulations. In countries with seed laws, no crop varieties are approved for commercial cultivation prior to the fulfillment of the national performance trials and the distinctness, uniformity, and stability tests, as well as prior to the approval by the National Variety Release Committee. This review outlines key challenges faced by African countries in the deployment of GM crops and cites lessons learned as well as best practices from countries that have successfully commercialized genetically engineered crops.

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency recognizes that Africa is in a period of transition and that this demands exploring and harnessing safe advances made in science-based innovations including modern biotechnology. To advance the science of biotechnology in Africa effectively, while at the same time safeguarding human health and the environment, the African Union (AU) adopted a High-Level Panel report on modern biotechnology entitled, Freedom to Innovate, which advocated for a coevolutionary approach where technology development goes hand in hand with regulation. Furthermore, most AU member states are Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB), a legally binding international agreement negotiated, concluded and adopted within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This seeks to guide Parties in developing systems for the environmentally sound management of modern biotechnology applications. Currently, 49 AU Member States have signed and ratified the CPB, of which 12 have passed biosafety laws. African Union (AU) member states are at different stages in the development of regulatory frameworks for applications of modern biotechnology, which include genetically modified (GM) products and other emerging technologies. Biosafety regulatory frameworks comprise: biotechnology and/or biosafety policy; laws, regulations and guidelines; administrative systems; decision-making systems; and mechanisms for public engagement. To assist Member States to implement functional regulatory frameworks for both agriculture and health applications, the NEPAD Agency established the African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE) and the African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (AMRH). Currently, transgenic insects and GM crops are regulated by Competent National Authorities whose mandate derives from national biosafety laws. For GM crops, a lot of research has been conducted up to the confined field trial (CFT) and multi-location trials stages in a number of African countries. Burkina Faso has fully functional containment facilities for transgenic mosquitoes while Mali and Uganda are developing theirs. The Burkina Faso regulatory agency has granted permits and has already received sets of sterile mosquito eggs for trials in the contained facility. It is instructive to note that both ABNE and AMRH have worked with national and regional regulatory bodies in Africa to enhance their technical capacities for informed decision making, adoption of best practices, and compliance with international standards. It is against the backdrop of a rich blend of on-the-ground knowledge, experience, expertise, and insight into the context and political sensitivities of member states that the NEPAD Agency seeks to expand existing support. This would include capacity strengthening in the regulation of emerging technologies, such as the application of gene drives in the development of transgenic mosquito for the control of malaria transmission.

The morphological characteristics of 12 selected sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) genotypes, from five states in northern part of Nigeria (Kaduna, Niger, Nassarawa, Kogi, and Benue), were evaluated during the 2012 cropping season at the Department of Biological Sciences experimental field, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria using a randomized block design. The objective of the experiment was to assess the performances of all the selected genotypes based on morphological parameters such as plant height, petiole length, number of leaves/plant, number of branches per plant and leaf surface area per plant. While NG01 had the tallest plants 2 weeks after planting, KG01 and NA01 had the shortest plants. Seven genotypes; (KD, NG-01, NG-02, NA-01, BE-01, KG-01 and KG-02 had positive characteristics (such as higher number of leaves and high number of branches) which could bring about high yield. These findings suggest that some of the genotypes could be potential parents for inclusion in future breeding programmes aimed at improving S. indicum in northern Nigeria. Key words: Sesamum indicum L., morphological characteristics, genotypes.

Manihot esculenta spp flabellifolia is a potential progenitor for cassava root protein content and yield improvement. Storage roots of cassava landraces are low in protein content due to the fact that past breeding objectives concentrated mainly on yield and resistance to diseases. The improvement of cassava through its wild progenitor is of importance for the full utilization of the potential of the wild progenitor. An interspecific F1 was crossed to a cultivated variety (MTAI - 8) to generate a backcross population. Root protein, yield and other quality traits were evaluated. High root protein content of 9.61%; fresh root yield of 60.00 ton ha-1; dry root yield of 34.75 ton ha-1; and dry matter content of 59.45% was found in this population. High broad-sense heritability was obtained for all the traits evaluated which is a good indicator that genetic improvement can be achieved in this population. This first backcross population had protein values higher than the earlier documented values in the landraces. Key word: Cassava, Manihot esculenta ssp flabellifolia, interspecific, protein and yield.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), a highly heterozygous crop, is devastated by cassava mosaic disease (CMD). The discovery of the CMD2 dominant gene is helpful in the genetic analysis of CMD resistance. Molecular markers for CMD2 gene were used to introgress CMD resistance into Latin American cassava genotypes and validated in the fi eld for 4 yr for stability of resistance conferred by CMD2. Field screening identifi ed 64 Latin American genotypes with stable resistance to CMD. Resistance to CMD of two Nigerian cassava cultivars (TMS 97/2205 and TMS 98/0505) was analyzed with markers and in the fi eld. Molecular data indicated that CMD resistance in the two Nigerian cultivars was mediated by the CMD2 gene. Results showed TMS 97/2205 to be highly resistant to CMD in three ecological zones in Nigeria. Further genetic analysis of this genotype as a source of high level of resistance to CMD using a segregating F 1 population derived from a TMS 97/2205 × NR 8083 cross was initiated using 530 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for CMD resistance. A marker (NS198) associated with a QTL for CMD resistance, explaining 11% of the phenotypic variance observed, was identifi ed. The combined effect of this QTL and CMD2 may account for the high level of resistance of TMS 97/2205. The resistance profi le of the evaluated CMD2 genotypes in growth cycle was not uniform and was affected by genetic background. The discovery of a new QTL (CMD3) for CMD resistance in TMS 97/2205 offers new opportunities for pyramiding CMD genes for enhanced durability of CMD resistance in cassava.

Root protein content of elite cassava is very low, largely due to breeder’s selection for other agronomic traits mainly fresh weight yield and disease resistance. Increased protein content in the root of cassava will improve its usefulness as a more complete food source in the developing world. An inter-specific F1 hybrid CW 198 - 11 was earlier developed at International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Cali, Colombia by genetic crosses of OW 230 - 1 (FLA 441 - 5) and CW 30–65 (an inter-specific hybrid between an improved cassava variety SG 427 - 87 and an accession of Manihot esculenta ssp flabellifolia (MESCFLAX – 80)). The inter-specific cross was ‘backcrossed’, in the sense of another cross to cassava (MTAI – 8) to generate a B1P2 family with 225 progenies in which major quantitative trait loci (QTL) for root protein in the backcross population of cassava were identified. A linkage map from the female parent of the backcross population was used for QTL detection. A total of three QTL (protg.7, protg.13 and protg.23) controlling protein were identified in three different environments. One QTL was expressed across all three environments. These results demonstrated high broad sense heritability of 61.6% for protein over 2 years, in two different locations. The individual effects of alleles at these QTL explained from 15% to 25% of the phenotypic variance. The consistency of QTL controlling protein across environments reveals their potential for use in marker-assisted recurrent selection.

Cassava is an important food security crop in the developing world, as it is adapted to a wide range of climatic conditions including marginal semi-arid agro-ecologies. Cassava is a starchy staple and the storage roots of commercial cassava cultivar are very low in protein content (0.5–2%, dry weight basis). A diet predominantly based on cassava, as is the case in several sub-Saharan countries, could lead to malnutrition, especially in young children over time. A wild progenitor of cassava, Manihot esculenta ssp. flabellifolia have been found to have high root protein content, up to 18% (dry weight basis) and is excellent source of genetic variability for this important trait. Accessions of M. esculenta ssp. flabellifolia with high storage root protein content were crossed with commercial cassava cultivars. High content of storage root protein ranged from 2.87 to 11.25% could be recovered in the F1 progenies. The F1 families had an average dry matter content of 29.6%. These F1 interspecific hybrids would be an entry point for improvement of cassava storage root protein content. A brief discussion of the strategy to be followed is presented.

The most widespread disease of economic importance of cassava is caused by whitefly vector, both as a single strain or combination of strains. A B1P2 family was generated from the crosses of an inter-specific F1 hybrid (CW 198-11) as a female parent with a commercial cassava cultivar (MTAI-8) as male parent at CIAT headquarters and evaluated in a high-pressure zone for whiteflies in Colombia. 227 genotypes were scored using a scale ranging from 1 (no leaf damage) to 6 (considerable leaf necrosis and defoliation, sooty mould on mid and lower leaves and young stems). The rest were considered promising. The most promising resistance was for damage ratings below 2 for 17.8% of the genotypes. The availability of the pest resistance genotypes, will serve as a means to combat the problem of CMD in Africa provided that resistance to A. socialis is also effective against B. tabaci with different virus strains that is capable of been introduced.

Knowledge about the crop biology of economic crops in Africa is needed for regulators to accurately review dossiers and conduct comprehensive environmental risk assessments (ERA). This information allows regulators to decide whether biotech crops present a risk to biodiversity, since crossing between domesticated crops and their wild relatives could affect the adaptations of the wild species. The criteria that should be used in the evaluation of African crops for environmental risk assessment (ERA) include: growth habit, centre of origin, centre of genetic diversity, proximity of wild relatives, inter-fertility, mode of pollen dispersal, length of pollen viability, mating system, invasiveness, weediness, mode of propagation, mode of seed dispersal and length of seed dormancy. In this paper, we discuss the crops being genetic engineered in Africa and describe the crop biology of those with native relatives.