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Morag Ferguson

Email: m.ferguson@cgiar.org

Plant Molecular Geneticist,International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Kenya

Dr. Morag Ferguson was born in South Africa and moved to the UK at the age of 14 where she completed her BSc. (Hons) in Crop and Soil Sciences at the University of Edinburgh. Her pull to Africa soon brought her to Botswana where she participated in an expedition to set up permanent vegetational monitoring sites in the Moremi Game Reserve. She stayed on and worked with an NGO, Veld Products Research, also teaching part-time at the Goborone Agriculture College. Dr. Ferguson was accepted onto DfID’s ‘Associate Professional Officer’s Scheme’ through which she completed her MSc. at the University of Birmingham in ‘Conservation and Utilisation of Plant Genetic Resources’. She was then posted to the Genetic Resources Unit, ICARDA, Syria, where she eventually embarked upon and completed her PhD studies on genetic diversity of Lens species using both molecular and morphological approaches. After a short spell teaching at the University of Southampton, UK, she worked as a consultant on indigenous forage species development in the United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman.

 In 1999, Dr. Ferguson joined ICRISAT in India where she undertook a post-doc on SSR marker development and diversity assessment in groundnuts (peanut). She spent several months in the lab of Dr. Andrew Paterson, University of Georgia, USA. She identified some of the first polymorphic SSR markers in groundnuts, opening the way for genetic linkage map development and diversity assessments. Dr. Ferguson relocated to Nairobi as the first plant molecular geneticist from a hosted institute to be based at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in September 2002 on a joint IITA/ICRISAT contract. The plant molecular group has since expanded to now host several long-term scientists from IITA, ICRISAT, CIMMYT and CIP.  

At ILRI, she initiated molecular marker-based applications for crop improvement. As crop based activities developed at ILRI, Dr. Ferguson joined IITA on a full-time basis and took on the role of Biotechnology co-ordinator for a USAID Regional Centre for Southern Africa project in 2003. She continued as a scientist for IITA working largely on molecular applications for cassava improvement. In collaboration with CIAT and the Agriculture Research Institute, Tanzania, she undertook a participatory marker-assisted breeding project to introgress cassava mosaic disease resistance into farmer-preferred varieties. As part of this project, genetic linkage mapping for CBSD was also initiated.

She continued with her interests in genetic diversity assessment, capacity building and working with the NARS by undertaking a Rockefeller-funded project on ‘Tapping Crop Diversity for the Resource Poor in Eastern, Southern and Central Africa’. This involved collaboration among seven NARS. Morag has also worked extensively with the Generation Challenge Program (GCP) on marker development (ESTs and SSRs) and generation of a reference collection for cassava. More recently she has been active in SNP identification and mapping in cassava. She looks forward to applying and expanding her understanding of molecular markers to address constraints of agriculture production in Africa.

Curriculum Vitae

Name: Dr. Morag Ferguson

Country of birth: South Africa

Nationality:  South African

Position Title: Plant Molecular Geneticist

Institution: International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Kenya

Contact Address:

BecA-ILRI Hub International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) P. O. Box 30709 Nairobi,Kenya

Email: m.ferguson@cgiar.org

Tel: +254 20 422-3000

Specialty Area:

-          Plant Molecular Genetics

Education:

1986-1989  BSc. (Hons.) Agricultural Sciences (Crop and Soil Sciences). University of Edinburgh, U.K

1990-1991  MSc. Conservation and Utilisation of Plant Genetic Resources, University of Birmingham, U.K. Thesis: Genetic diversity in the cultivated chickpea, Cicer arientinum L.

1993-1997  Ph.D. University of Birmingham, U.K. Thesis: Studies of Genetic Variation within the Genus Lens.

Positions held (since terminal degree):

1997 – 1999   Consultant, ICARDA - Arabian Peninsula Regional Program

1999 – 2002   Post-doctoral scientist, ICRISAT, India.

2002 – 2003   Scientist, ICRISAT/IITA, c/o ILRI, Nairobi, Kenya

2003 –2004  Biotechnology Co-ordinator, USAID-RCSA project, IITA, c/o ILRI, Nairobi, Kenya

2004 -2008  Scientist, IITA, c/o ILRI, Nairobi, Kenya

2008 to date  Consultant, IITA

Expertise:

-          Genetic linkage mapping

-          Molecular marker development & applications

-          Morphological & molecular diversity assessments

Honors and Awards (since terminal degree):

1989  1989James Anthony Memorial Prize. University of Edinburgh, U.K. .

2003  Crop Science Society of America. Best journal article in ‘Genetic Resources’ .

A selection of major research accomplishments: Discoveries and first reports

1)                  First study to measure recovery of genetic diversity after complete loss of diversity after a disaster. Ferguson, M.E., R. Jones, P. Bramel, C. Domínguez, C. do Vale and J. Han. Post-Flooding Disaster Crop Diversity Recovery: A Case Study of Cowpea in Mozambique. Disaster (accepted).

2)                  Polymorphic SSR markers made available for cultivated groundnut with an exceptionally narrow genetic base. Ferguson, M.E., M.D. Burow, S. Schultz, P. Bramel, A.H. Paterson, S. Kresovich and S. Mitchell. 2004. Microsatellite identification and characterization in peanut (A. hypogaea L.). Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 108(6)1064-1070.

3)                  First diversity assessment for cultivated groundnut. Ferguson, M.E., P.J. Bramel and S. Chandra. 2004. Gene Diversity Among Botanical Varieties in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Crop Science. 44 (5) 1847-1854.

4)                  One of first eco-geographic studies based on molecular diversity published. Ferguson, M.E., B.V. Ford-Lloyd, L.D. Robertson, N. Maxted, and H.J. Newbury. 1998. Mapping the geographical distribution of genetic variation in the genus Lens for the enhanced conservation of plant genetic diversity. Molecular Ecology. 7: 1743-1755.

5)                  New taxon described in the genus Lens. Ferguson, M.E., N. Maxted, M. van Slageren and L.D. Robertson. 2000. A re-assessment of the taxonomy of Lens Mill. (Leguminosae, Papilionoideae, Vicieae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 133: 41-59.

A Selection of refereed journal publications (2002-present)

Ferguson, M.E., R. Jones, P. Bramel, C. Domínguez, C. do Vale and J. Han. Post- Flooding Disaster Crop Diversity Recovery: A Case Study of Cowpea in Mozambique. Disaster (accepted).

Kawuki, R., M. Ferguson, M. Labuschagne, L. Herselman and DJ Kim. 2009. Identification, characterisation and application of single nucleotide polymorphisms for diversity assessment in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.). Molecular Breeding 23: 669-684.

Odeny D., Jayashree B., M. Ferguson, D. Hoisington, J. Crouch and C. Gebhardt (2007). Development, Characterisation and Utilisation of Microsatellite Markers in Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]. Plant Breeding. 126:130-136.

Ferguson, M.E., A. Jarvis, H.T. Stalker, D. Williams, Luigi Guarino, J.F.M., Valls, R.N. Pittman, C.E. Simpson and P. Bramel (2005). Biogeography of Wild Arachis (Leguminosae): Distribution and Environmental Characterisation. Biodiversity and Conservation. 14 (7): 1777-1798.

Jayashree, B., Morag Ferguson, Dan Ilut, Jeff Doyle and Jonathan H. Crouch. 2005. Analysis of genomic sequences from peanut (Arachis hypogaea). Electronic Journal of Biotechnology. [online]. 15 August 2005, Vol 8, No. 2.

Ferguson, M.E., M.D. Burow, S. Schultz, P. Bramel, A.H. Paterson, S. Kresovich and S. Mitchell. 2004. Microsatellite identification and characterization in peanut (A. hypogaea L.). Theoretical and Applied Genetics 108(6)1064-1070.

Ferguson, M.E., P.J. Bramel and S. Chandra. 2004. Gene Diversity Among Botanical Varieties in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Crop Science 44 (5) 1847-1854.

Dwivedi S.L., J.H. Crouch, S.N. Nigam, M.E. Ferguson and A.H. Paterson. 2003. Molecular breeding of groundnut for enhanced productivity and food security in the semi-arid tropics:

Jarvis, A., M.E. Ferguson, D. Williams, G. Mottram, L. Guarino, H.T. Stalker, J.F.M. Valls, R.N. Pittman, C.E. Simpson, P. Bramel. 2003. Biogeography of wild Arachis: Assessing conservation status and setting future priorities. Crop Science 43: 1110-1108.

Peacock J.M. , M. E. Ferguson, G. A. Alhadrami, I. R. McCann, A. Al Hajoj, A. Saleh and R. Karnik. 2003. Conservation through utilization: a case study of the indigenous forage grasses of the Arabian Peninsula. Journal of Arid Environments 54:15-28.

Book chapters:

Invited presentations at major international conferences (2002-present-Maximum 8)

Research Grants (2004 – present):

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This database is supported with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation