Ismail Rabbi

Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Integrative Plant Science, Plant Breeding and Genetics Section

Ismail Y. Rabbi is a senior breeder at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria. His main research involves the development and application of genomic resources for crop improvement. Ismail currently develops cassava varieties for Nigeria and wider region of West Africa.

Interests

Cassava breeding, including using of genomic selection
Population genetics
Genomics resource development
International agriculture

Recent Research

My research seeks better understanding of the genetic architecture of important key cassava traits including enhanced starch content, biofortification, resistance to viruses and pests. Besides discovery, I am interested in translational research particularly development of robust panel of trait-linked markers for selection. I have collaborated with various genomics and bioinformatics teams to develop genomic resources for clonal crops.

In partnership with Cornell and several National Breeding Programs, we have implemented accelerated cassava population improvement through the use of genomic selection, flowering induction and modern breeding database in order to deliver improved cultivars so farmers in Tropical Africa can achieve food security and stable income.

Selected Publications

Eckardt, N.A., E.A. Ainsworth, R.N. Bahuguna, M.R. Broadley, W. Busch, et al. 2023. Climate change challenges, plant science solutions. The Plant Cell 35(1): 24–66.
Mbanjo, E., J. Hershberger, P. Peteti, A. Agbona, A. Ikpan, et al. 2022. Predicting starch content in cassava fresh roots using near-infrared spectroscopy. Frontiers in Plant Science.
Ige, A.D., B. Olasanmi, G.J. Bauchet, S. Kayondo, E. Mbanjo, et al. 2022a. Validation of KASP-SNP markers in cassava germplasm for marker-assisted selection of increased carotenoid content and dry matter content. Frontiers in Plant Science.
Bakare, M.A., S.I. Kayondo, C.I. Aghogho, M. Wolfe, E. Parkes, et al. 2022. Parsimonious genotype by environment interaction covariance models for cassava (Manihot esculenta). Frontiers in Plant Science.
Morales, N., A.C. Ogbonna, B.J. Ellerbrock, G.J. Bauchet, T. Tantikanjana, et al. 2022. Breedbase: a digital ecosystem for modern plant breeding. G3-Genes Genomes Genetics.
Wolfe, M.D., A.W. Chan, P. Kulakow, I. Rabbi, and J.-L. Jannink. 2022. Genomic mating in outbred species: predicting cross usefulness with additive and total genetic covariance matrices (vol 219, iyab122, 2021). GENETICS 220(2).
Hershberger, J., E.G.N. Mbanjo, P. Peteti, A. Ikpan, K. Ogunpaimo, et al. 2022. Low‐cost, handheld near‐infrared spectroscopy for root dry matter content prediction in cassava. The Plant Phenome Journal 5(1): e20040.
Teeken, B., A. Agbona, A. Bello, O. Olaosebikan, E. Alamu, et al. 2021. Understanding cassava varietal preferences through pairwise ranking of gari‐eba and fufu prepared by local farmer–processors. International journal of food science & technology 56(3): 1258–1277.
Ige, A.D., B. Olasanmi, E.G.N. Mbanjo, I.S. Kayondo, E.Y. Parkes, et al. 2021. Conversion and validation of uniplex SNP markers for selection of resistance to cassava mosaic disease in cassava breeding programs. Agronomy 11(3): 420.
Ogbonna, A.C., L.R. Braatz de Andrade, I.Y. Rabbi, L.A. Mueller, E. Jorge de Oliveira, et al. 2021. Large‐scale genome‐wide association study, using historical data, identifies conserved genetic architecture of cyanogenic glucoside content in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) root. The Plant Journal 105(3): 754–770.

Awards & Honors

DAAD Fellow (2005 – 2009)

Contact Information

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
Ibadan, Nigeria

iyr4 [at] cornell.edu

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