Frafra potato yield improvement and tuber rot resistance characterization
A research collaboration opportunity from the University of Ghana to improve Frafra potato cultivation through combined biofertilizer and inorganic fertilizer trials, and to screen 420 accessions for resistance to tuber rot disease caused by Colletotrichum gleosporioides.
Overview
This research program addresses two critical challenges in Frafra potato production in Ghana: improving tuber yield through optimized fertilization, and identifying genetic resistance to tuber rot disease. The project combines agronomic trials using bio-inoculants (Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium sp.) alongside inorganic fertilizers (N, P, K, and NPK) with a large-scale germplasm screening effort across 420 Frafra potato accessions for resistance to rot caused by Colletotrichum gleosporioides. By integrating nutrient management with disease resistance characterization, the work supports sustainable, eco-friendly cultivation of a nutritious and locally important food security crop.
Technical specifications
Fertilization trial design:
- On-farm trials evaluating the combined effects of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium sp. bio-inoculants with inorganic N, P, K, and NPK fertilizers
- A 3 x 5 factorial treatment structure to assess interactions between biological and inorganic nutrient sources on growth and yield parameters
Disease resistance screening:
- Assessment of 420 Frafra potato accessions for resistance to tuber rot caused by Colletotrichum gleosporioides
- Biochemical profiling of promising resistant genotypes to identify markers associated with disease resistance
Collaboration needs:
- Provision of biofertilizers (Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium sp. inoculants)
- Plant growth measuring equipment
- Materials for biochemical testing
- Personnel funding
Technology readiness level
This is an early-stage applied research program with proposed two-year field and laboratory studies. Prior work by the research lab has identified 5 Frafra potato cultivars suitable for commercial cultivation, providing a foundation for the proposed fertilization and disease resistance studies. The proposed trials and germplasm screening represent the first systematic investigation of these specific factors in Frafra potato, with validation to be carried out through on-farm trials and laboratory-based biochemical characterization.
About University of Ghana
The University of Ghana is a comprehensive public research university in Accra, combining broad academic breadth with a strong applied research mission. Industry interfaces through the Institute of Applied Science and Technology, which convenes engagement programs and facilitates contract work, internships, and demonstrations. Clinical translation is enabled by the on‑campus University of Ghana Medical Centre and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, providing advanced laboratories and patient‑adjacent research. Research is supported by competitive Ghanaian government sources and international funders. A dedicated technology transfer and IP unit within the Office of Research, Innovation and Development supports protection, licensing, and industry collaboration agreements.
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