Spurring development of root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita resistance in sweetpotato germplasm for food security in Uganda

Sweet potato, a vital crop grown by over 40% of Uganda’s farmers and ranked as the fourth most important staple in the country, faces significant yield losses despite its adaptability and low input requirements. Since 2021, scientists from the Crop Pathogen Immunity and Plant Pathogen/Parasite Interactions research groups, in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Uganda’s National Crops Resources Research Institute, have been investigating the role of root-knot nematodes (RKN/plant-parasitic nematodes) in these yield reductions.

Initial studies revealed that 20% of samples from twelve leading sweet potato growing districts were infested with Meloidogyne incognita nematodes (a plant-parasitic roundworm). This project is aimed at closing these infrastructure and expertise gaps. The project’s long-term goal is to develop RKN-resistant sweet potato varieties for smallholder farmers. Key objectives include identifying RKN strains in Uganda and developing a protocol for screening resistance under local conditions, screening and mapping Ugandan sweet potato varieties for RKN resistance, establishing a root-knot nematode data in Uganda and expertise centre and training scientists.