Potential role of biotechnology tools for genetic improvement of “lost crops of Africa”: the case of fonio (Digitaria exilis and Digitaria iburua)

Abstract

Fonio (Digitaria spp), considered as one of the lost crops of Africa, remains an important food crop for 
millions of people in Africa. The intimidating challenge today is to produce enough fonio to meet the 
growing demand for its products. Research has an important role to play in enhancing fonio production 
in Africa. This paper discusses the innovative research techniques of agricultural biotechnology that 
are particularly relevant to facilitating the genetic improvement of fonio for higher productivity. The 
paper considers the potential role of biotechnology applications like DNA markers in understanding the 
evolution, origin, distribution and diversity of fonio in Africa; somaclonal variation in generating genetic 
variability in fonio; and genetic transformation in circumventing fonio breeding barriers to introduce 
alien genes of agronomic importance into fonio.