Development of a High-Throughput Magnetic Bead DNA Isolation Protocol for Dry Cowpea Leaf Samples

New cowpea germplasm must be developed, genotyped, and field-tested to provide West African farmers with varieties exhibiting increased tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress in the face of climate change. Cowpea is a protein-rich staple and source of folate for women and children and is crucial to food security in sub-Saharan Africa. The long-term goal of this research is to accelerate delivery of marker-assisted breeding to West African breeders so they may decrease the breeding cycle and more efficiently develop food security for families in Burkina-Faso, Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal. The objective of this research is to develop a high-throughput DNA isolation protocol using methods and equipment suitable to West African cowpea breeding programs. By doing so, genotype data of large mapping populations will be made available to expedite mapping and selection of traits.  This protocol addresses logistical challenges in processing international cowpea leaf materials through to genotyping. Shipment of transgenic or live plant material from Africa to the U.S. is not authorized, but isolated plant DNA is permitted, for instance. In addition, the cost of reagents is less than predominate DNA extraction kits. The capacity to extract plant DNA on-site will increase the independence and efficiency of collaborations with West African plant breeding programs.