Dr. Niyitanga Sylvain is a Rwandan holds a Ph.D. in Plant Genetics and Breeding within crop science from the College of Agriculture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University in Fuzhou, China, where he conducted significant research on genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and transcriptome analysis to identify loci and candidate genes related to resistance to anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) in jute. His dissertation, which he completed between 2019 and 2023, contributed to advancing our understanding of plant resistance mechanisms.

Dr. Niyitanga also earned a Master's degree in Plant Genetics and Breeding from the same institution, focusing on the development of EST-SSR markers and QTL analysis for cellulose content in jute, as part of his research project between 2016 and 2019. Earlier, he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Agronomy from the University of Rwanda, where he conducted a research on evaluating newly introduced soybean varieties in Rwanda’s Nyagatare agroecological zone.

In addition to his academic qualifications, Dr. Niyitanga participated in professional training in irrigation technology and modern horticultural crop production through Agrostudies in Israel from 2013 to 2014. He has also gained practical experience working as an Extension Officer in the E-MUHINZI project under Atlantis Bank and the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources in Rwanda, where he coordinated activities promoting irrigation technology to increase crop yield.

Currently, Dr. Niyitanga is serving as a Lecturer at INES-RUHENGERI since July 2024.

Dr. Niyitanga’s research contributions and publications can be accessed on platforms like ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sylvain-Niyitanga.) and Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=niyitanga+et+al.&btnG=).

LIST OF PUBLICATIONS

1. Niyitanga S, et al. Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of MYB transcription factors involved in fiber formation in white jute (Corchorus capsularis). Industrial Crops and Products. 2023; 197:116539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2023.116539.

2. Niyitanga S, et al. Applied Genetics of Natural Fiber Plants. Frontiers in Genetics. 2021; 12:529. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2021.647225.

3. Niyitanga S, et al. Evaluation of newly developed SSR markers and identification of quantitative trait loci for bast fiber cellulose in white jute (Corchorus capsularis). Plant Breeding. 2019;138(6):897-906. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbr.12747.

4. Niyitanga S, et al. Development of genome-wide SSR markers for physical map construction with PCR-based polymorphic SSRs in Jute (Corchorus spp.). Tropical Plant Biology. 2022:1-13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12042-021-09301-7.

5. Niyitanga S, et al. Genetic and Genomics of Bast Fiber Development in Jute. The Jute Genome: Springer; 2022. p. 259-68. https://doi.org/10.1007/978- 3-030-91163-8_17.

6. Niyitanga S, Satya P, Elias SM. Functional Genomics of Jute. The Jute Genome: Springer; 2022. p. 223-45. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91163-8_15.

7. Yang X, Li H., Niyitanga, S. et al. Establishment of TRV-mediated Gene Silencing and Application for Elucidating Functions of Anthocyanidin Reductase Gene HcANR in Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.). Tropical Plant Biol. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12042-023- 09341-1.

8. Wei H, Yang Z, Niyitanga S, et al. The reference genome of seed hemp (Cannabis sativa) provides new insights into fatty acid and vitamin E synthesis. Plant Commun. 2024 Jan 8;5(1):100718. doi: 10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100718.

9. Waseem M, Nkurikiyimfura O, Niyitanga S, et al. GRAS transcription factors emerging regulators in plant growth, development, and multiple stresses. Molecular Biology Reports. 2022;49(10):9673-85.

10. Zhang L, Wan X, Xu Y, Niyitanga S, et al. De novo assembly of transcriptome and genome-wide identification reveal GA 3 stress-responsive WRKY transcription factors involved in fiber formation in jute (Corchorus capsularis). BMC Plant Biology. 2020; 20(1):1-15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-020-02617-8.

11. Li H, Yang X, Niyitanga S, et al. Transcriptomes of Different Tissues for Expression Characteristics Analysis of MYB gene Family in Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.). Tropical Plant Biology. 2022:1-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12042-022-09320-y.

12. Wei H, Chen S, Niyitanga S, et al. Genome-wide identification and expression analysis response to GA3 stresses of WRKY gene family in seed hemp (Cannabis sativa L). Gene.2022; 822:146290. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-022-07425-x.

13. Zhang L, Ma X, Zhang X, Xu Y, Ibrahim AK, Yao J, Huang H, Chen S, Liao Z, Zhang Q, Niyitanga S, et al. Reference genomes of the two cultivated jute species. Plant biotechnology journal. 2021;19(11):2235-48. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.13652

14. Ibrahim AK, Xu Y, Niyitanga S, Afzal MZ, Zhang L, Zhang L, et al. QTL Mapping and Expression Analysis of Candidate Genes for Salt and Drought Tolerance in Corchorus capsularis Seedlings. Tropical Plant Biology. 2021;14(4):345-59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12042-021- 09292-5.

15. Ibrahim AK, Zhang L, Niyitanga S, Afzal MZ, Xu Y, Zhang L, et al. Principles and approaches of association mapping in plant breeding. Tropical Plant Biology. 2020; 13:212-24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12042-020-09261-4.

16. Afzal MZ, Jia Q, Ibrahim AK, Niyitanga S, et al.. Mechanisms and signaling pathways of salt tolerance in crops: understanding from the transgenic plants. Tropical Plant Biology. 2020; 13:297-320. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12042-020-09265-0

17. Huawei Wei, Siyuan Chen, Niyitanga S, et al. Genomewide identification and expression analysis response to GA3 stresses of WRKY gene family in seed hemp (Cannabis sativa L). Gene (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2022.146290.

18. Afzal MZ, Ibrahim AK, Xu Y, Niyitanga S, et al. Kenaf (hibiscus cannabinus L.) breeding. Journal of Natural Fibers. 2022;19(11):4063-81. https://doi.org/10.1080/15440478.2020.1852998.

19. Zhang L, Ibrahim AK, Niyitanga S, et al. Jute (Corchorus spp.) Breeding. Advances in Plant Breeding Strategies: Industrial and Food Crops: Springer; 2019. p. 85-113. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23265-8_4.

20. Waseem M, Nkurikiyimfura O, Niyitanga S, et al. Role of Metabolomics and Next-Generation Sequencing for Sustainable Crop Production. Principles and Practices of OMICS and Genome Editing for Crop Improvement: Springer; 2022. p. 123-47. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-96925-7_5.