DAAD climapAfrica Postdoctoral Fellow
Ecophysiology and Crop Improvement
Department of Genetics and Biotechnology
Faculty of Sciences and Techniques
University of Abomey-Calavi
Benin
Dr Thierry TOVIGNAN is a Crop Physiologist working as an Assistant Researcher at the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology at the Faculty of Sciences & Techniques of University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin. He is interested in crop genetic diversity assessment through the morphological and molecular criteria and crop improvement for biotic and abiotic stresses dedicated to tropical semi-arid environments. He is currently working on the multipurpose (food/feed/fuel) sweet sorghum and striving to understand the functioning of traits of interest (photoperiod sensitivity, drought tolerance) and cropping practices (sowing date, organic fertilization) contributing to improving yield and quality of climate-smart sorghum varieties.
Climate change expertise and interests
As a Plant Ecophysiologist, my research particularly focuses on the consequences of climate change, especially drought, on plant photosynthesis and hydraulic physiology and their acclimation to changing environmental conditions.
Publications (most recent)
Diatta C., Tovignan K. T.*, Adoukonou-Sagbadja H., Aidara O., Diao Y., Sarr M. P, Ifie B. E., Offei S. K. Danquah E. Y., Cisse N. 2019. Development of Sorghum Hybrids for Stable Yield and Resistance to Grain Mold for the Center and South-East of Senegal. Crop Protection, 119, 197–207. doi:10.1016/j.cropro.2019.02.001.
Tovignan, T. K.*, Fonceka, D., Ndoye, I., Cisse, N., and Luquet, D., 2016. The sowing date and post-flowering water status affect the sugar and grain production of photoperiodic, sweet sorghum through the regulation of sink size and leaf area dynamics. Field Crops Research. 192, 67–77 doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2016.04.015
Tovignan, T. K.*, Luquet, D., Fonceka, D., Ndoye, I., Trouche, G., and Cisse, N. 2016. Assessment of the variability of Senegalese landraces for phenology and sugar yield components to broaden the genetic pool of multi-purpose sorghum. Plant Genetic Resources, 14, 121–131. doi:10.1017/S1479262115000155
I participate at climapAfrica because...
this program provides early-career scientists the unique opportunity to meet up, share their experiences, and conduct innovative research aiming to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and strengthen the resilience of African communities.
