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Short
Biodata Staff
profile |
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Name: |
Mande Semon |
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Nationality: |
Ivorian |
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Position
held: |
Upland Rice
Breeder,
Africa Rice
Center (WARDA) |
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Year of
Employment: |
June 2006 |
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Qualifications: |
PhD in
Plant breeding and genetics, 2003, Cornell university, USA
Msc in
Agronomy and Plant genetics, 1988, University of Arizona, USA
Dues Agronomie, Licence
d’enseignement des sciences naturelles, Maîtrise de Génétique:
1982-1984, Université d’Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire |
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Specialization/Expertise: |
Rice Breeding and Genetics:
Utilization of a combination of conventional breeding techniques and
biotechnology tools such as rice anther culture and rice genetic
transformation and molecular markers [QTL identification and Marker
Assisted Selection (MAS)] for rice variety development based on
intra/interspecific hybridization involving Oryza sativa,
Oryza glaberrima and Oryza barthii.
Molecular diversity analysis of the African rice species (Oryza
glaberrima) based on microsatellite markers. |
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Experience: |
- 17 years in rice
research
— breeding and
genetics, molecular breeding and biotechnology with emphasis on the
African rice germplasm
- Upland Rice Breeder;
- Post Doctoral Associate in molecular breeding (at Cornell
University for 3 years);
- Post Doctoral Fellow in molecular breeding (at WARDA for 1½
years);
- Research Assistant in upland rice breeding (at WARDA for 7 years);
- In addition, 2 years in
maize/sorghum breeding, 2 years in sugarcane breeding and a year as
technical assistant to a major American seed company affiliate for
seed commercialization/dissemination and R&D in Africa before
joining WARDA.
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Major
Achievements: |
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Contributed to the development and dissemination of the upland
NERICAs through close supervision and participation in participatory
variety selection, on farm testing and capacity building
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The genetic structure and
diversity of the cultivated African rice species O.
glaberrima was deciphered based on microsatellite markers,
serving as basis for the understanding of species' contribution
to rice breeding.
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Developed several promising
intra- and interspecific (O. sativa x O. glaberrima;
O sativa x O. barthii) varieties with good grain
quality, yield and tolerance to abiotic/biotic stresses, namely
to drought and blast, through a strong partnership with African
NARS collaborators and Cornell University.
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Currently my laboratory is
involved in (1) screening African rice germplasm for zinc and
iron content, (2) global effort in addressing climate change
through the development of drought-tolerant rice varieties.
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African young
scientists are continuously trained in my laboratory
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Has published key research
papers in major scientific journals (Genetics and
Euphytica among others) dealing with the understanding of
the genetic structure of O. glaberrima, the development
of the upland NERICA rice, and the agromorphological
characterization of O. glaberrima
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