Biocrops Biotechnology Limited: Yam Multiplication project

Ms. Adaora EkwegbaraYIIFSWA Technical officer. Biocrops

Ltd

Pioneers of Commercial Biotechnology

in NigeriaBoard Members Senior staff

Biocrops at a Glance• Biocrops, established in 2000, is the premier biotechnology company in Nigeria.• Biocrops operates at two centers located in Lagos and Abuja.

Plantation crops being promoted by Biocrops include:-

SugarcaneCocoaOil PalmCottonPineapplesEucalyptusCassavaSweet potatoYamBananaPlantain

Biocrops in

pictures

Biocrops has established the industry standard for the size of sugarcane seedling for field deployment

Yam multiplication at Biocrops

Picture showing the largest Immersion Bioreactor in Nigeria

Strategies to produce Yam foundation seeds at the Abuja Biofactory

• Low-Hanging-Fruit technologies:-–Conventional Plant tissue culture–Temporary Immersion Bioreactor

Technology–Aeroponics Technology–Yam Miniset technology–Somatic embrogenesis –Vine rooting technology

Progress Made Under YIIFSWA

• Year 1 plants are still growing, making them 2 years old!!

• Screen house repaired with shade nets replaced.

• Biocrops has been backstopped with vines to replant most of the wells in the aeroponics facility

• Aeroponic systems has overcome initial heat-related problems and is now functional

Date cultured

Initial No. of single nodes/vessel

Variety After 4 weeks No of nodes/expla

nt

8 weeks after culturing

Replicate

08/12/2015 4 (100 Vessels)

TDa 2014 4 7 28

08/12/2015 4 (15 vessels)

TDr 95/19158

4 6 6

09/12/2015 4 (10 vessels)

TDa 291 3 5 5

09/12/2015 4 (20 vessels)

TDr 89/02665

4 7 28

Tissue Culture

Date of culture

Initial No. of single nodes/vessel

Variety After 4 weeks No of nodes/explant

8 weeks after culturing

Replicate

17/08/2015 4 (10 vessels)

TDa 2014

3 6 24

17/08/2015 4 (6 vessels)

TDr 95/19158

3 6 24

18/08/2015 4 (4 vessel)

TDr EKPE

2 4 16

17/08/2015 4 (8 vessels)

TDr 89/02665

4 6 24

17/08/2015 4 (6 vessels)

TDa 291 3 6 24

Bioreactor

Date Planted

Source Variety No Planted

No surviving after 1 week

No surviving after 2 week

No surviving after 4 week

Tuber weight at harvest

25/06/2015 Vine cutting TDa 98/01166 25 19 19 19 025/06/2015 Vine cutting TDr Amula 38 24 24 24 025/06/2015 Vine cutting TDr Alumaco 7 7 7 7 016/07/2015 Rooted vine TDa 00/00194 12 12 12 12 0

16/07/2015 Rooted vine TDa 98/01176 13 11 9 9 016/07/2015 Rooted vine TDa 95/19158 17 17 17 17 0

21/07/2015 Vine cutting TDr 95/18544 32 25 19 19 021/07/2018 Vine cutting TDa 98/01176 10 6 4 4 021/07/2015 Vine cutting TDr 95/19177 56 40 31 31 027/07/2015 Rooted vine TDr 95/19177 13 13 13 13 027/07/2015 Rooted vine TDa 98/01176 16 16 16 16 001/09/2015 Rooted

aeroponics vine TDr 95/18544 11 11 11 11 0

01/09/2015 Rooted aeroponics vine

TDr 95/19158 14 13 13 13 0

Aeroponics

Aeroponics Works!!!

Harvested tubers

TubersVariety/ weight of tuber(grams)

TDr 95/18544(54 tubers)

TDr 95/19158(1 tuber)

TDr 95/19177(8 tubers)

TDr Ekpe(8 tubers)

TDr Pepa(11 tubers)

TDa 2014(9 tubers)

44.59 9.9 4.00 0.5 4.1 0.414.19 4.68 0.3 4.4 0.179.76 1.28 1.3 6.8 0.4516.56 0.90 0.6 2.4 0.255.37 0.44 0.4 0.8 0.266.60 0.43 0.3 1.9 0.389.72 0.23 0.3 0.8 0.198.34 0.22 0.3 1.6 0.187.11 0.8 0.166.01 0.5 4.98 0.4

8.21

Biocrops Targets

•Biocrops targets to expand its Temporary Immersion Bioreactor to 1000 vessels by Dec, 2016•Biocrops targets to plant 1 hectare of quality declared seeds in 2016 planting season.•Biocrops targets to cover the entire 1960 wells in its aeroponics facility by July, 2016.•These targets should give 10,000 quality declared seeds by Dec, 2016

Key needs• Licensing by the National Agricultural Seeds

Council!!!• Training of staff on clean seed technology: viz

virus indexing/expansion of training on bacteria indexing, somatic embryogenesis etc.

• Assistance in materials sourcing. Quality product suppliers

• Generation of demand for yam seeds! Demand would stimulate commercial production!

Key Request!

A guaranteed market for yam seedlings:- a purchase agreement for

Yam seedlings!!!! Biocrops targets to produce up to

200,000 yam seeds/annum.

THANK YOU!.

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!