Presentation by Robert Mwanga during a spotlight seminar at the Planet Earth Institute, London on 15 March 2017

1. The Sweetpotato Action for Security and
Health in Africa (SASHA) is a five-year
initiative designed to improve the food security
and livelihoods ofpoor families in Sub-
Saharan Africa by exploiting the untapped
potential of sweetpotato.It will develop the
essential capacities,products,and methods to
reposition sweetpotato in food economies of
Sub-Saharan African countries to alleviate
poverty and under-nutrition.
Progress in Breeding
Orange-fleshed
Sweetpotato in sub-
Saharan Africa
Mwanga R., G. Ssemakula,B. Yada,J.
Kreuze, S. Fuentes,J. Low, W. Grüneberg,
E. Carey, M. Andrade, E. Lukonge,B.
Kivuva, J. Ndirigwe, C. Yencho
Planet Earth Institute Spotlight Seminar: The
Future of Agriculture in Africa
The Library, Royal Society of Chemistry,
Burlington House, London, UK
March 15, 2017
SWEETPOTATO ACTION FOR SECURITY AND HEALTH IN AFRICA

2. Outline of presentation
• Background, yield losses due to sweetpotato
virus disease (SPVD)
• Old sweetpotato breeding cycle
• Breeding for beta-carotene (orange flesh)
• Progress to date

3. Sweetpotato Virus Disease (SPVD) Causes
Significant Yield Losses (50->90%) (drought?)
Clark et al. 2012: Plant Disease

4. Developing populations for SPVD
resistance and quality traits

5. Regional genotype x environment orange-fleshed sweetpotato
trials, 15 Trial Sites 2006/2007
.. .
. .
..
. .
.
..
Serere
Namulonge
Kakamega
Bukoba
Hombolo
Kibaha
Angoni
Gurue
Mandoto
Mimosa
Rubona
Kibundu
Umbelezi
Zanzibar
Kizimbani
Kacwekano
.
Not to scale

6. Sweetpotato seed sent from Uganda to SSA Countries in
2007/2008 (Total amount of seed: 471,405)
..
.
.
..
.
.
152,640
37,350
10,540
32,850 90,400
21,000
71,010
9,705
.
Not to scale .
8,000
20,320
17,590.

7. Variety Selection/Breeding
Combine high
beta-carotene
with other
major desirable
traits -

8. Accelerated Breeding
Multiplication ratios: cassava/sweetpotato and maize
Multiply new breeding
lines in screen/glass
houses, irrigated fields
Use more sites at earlier stages in the breeding cycle
to substitute for fewer sites over more seasons
Sweetpotato
Action for
Security and
Health in
Africa
(SASHA) –
from 2009
supported
sweetpotato
platforms

9. African sweetpotato breeders breed in Africa for
Africa using the latest knowledge and efficient
methods
12 Countries with crossing
blocks/breeding
3 Countries with
sweetpotato evaluation/
selection activities
Since 2009 nine countries
have released 56 new
superior varieties; 40 of
them orange-fleshed

10. Thank you for your attention
Planet Earth Institute
World Food Prize Foundation
AGRA
CGIAR CENTERS
NARS
Farmers
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Other Donors
Other partners