ICRISAT Archival Report 2006 - The seedlings of success in the ...

Forty nine advanced and 50 preliminary sorghum lines developed from crosses between bold grain B lines from
ICRISAT- Bulawayo and adapted local and improved varieties to improve grain quality of the adapted varieties
were evaluated at Alupe in the long rainy season 2006. Yields of the 11 best test lines in the advanced trial ranged
from 2.292 to 2.736 t ha -1 with 100 seed mass >2.9gm. The best check variety (IESV 93036 SH) yielded 2.222 t ha -
1 . The best lines will be evaluated at more sites and supplied to interested NARS. In the Preliminary yield trial,
yields in the best 8 test lines ranged from 1.896 to 2.469 t ha -1 and were above the best check variety IESV 93036
SH (1.854 t ha -1 ).
MA Mgonja, E Manyasa, J Kibuka and E Muange
Activity A4.2: Facilitate information, knowledge and product sharing among NARS partners of available
improved sorghum and millets populations and germplasm
Milestone A4.2.1: At least 6 NARS are annually provided with breeding materials for further evaluation
The ICRISAT breeding program provides breeding materials as semi-and-finished products for further selection and
testing by NARS collaborators. In 2006, breeding materials were provided to six NARS partners at their request for
inclusion in their respective evaluation programs.
Breeding Materials supplied to Collaborators in 2006 (from ESA, Kenya)
Country Crop Organization
No. of
varieties
No. of
samples
Quantity
Category
(kg)
Varieties/Advanced
breeding lines 2.0
South Africa Sorghum CSIR 20 20
Kenya Sorghum Moi University 12 12 ,, 1.2
Kenya Sorghum KEPHIS 54 54 ,, 0.54
Uganda Sorghum SAARI/NARO 12 36 ,, 0.12
Ethiopia Sorghum IAR 12 36 ,, 0.12
Kenya ,, KARI-Embu 26 75 ,, 1.8
Kenya ,,
Western Seed
Company 7 14 A/B lines 0.4
Botswana ,, MOA-Research 1 1 Breeder 0.1
Sudan Finger millet Research 337 409 Germplasm/varieties 2.6
The materials are shared under the Material Transfer Agreement.
MA Mgonja and E Manyasa
Milestone A4.2.2: At least one improved sorghum and /or pearl millet cultivar released every two years in any ESA
country from 2007 to 2011
Improved sorghum and millet varieties identified for release in Malawi: NARS collaborators continue
evaluation of improved germplasm to identify the most adaptable and acceptable materials for release and
cultivation by farming communities. The Malawi Agricultural Technology Clearing Committee (ATCC) met at
Chitedze Research Station and considered several technologies including sorghum and millet materials derived from
ICRISAT germplasm. The National sorghum and millet breeder submitted for consideration for release two sorghum
varieties, one pearl millet variety and two pearl millet hybrids. Two sorghum varieties (Sima and SV2) were given
pre release status based on the station performance data. SV2 is released in Zimbabwe (1987) and Sima is also
released in Zambia (1989). Initially thought to be restricted in adaptation to medium long season southern Zambia,
analyses of available multi environment trial data for the SADC region indicated that Sima is one of the varieties
that possessed characteristics that Zambian farmers prefer; expressed highest mean yields (327gm/m2) and positive
responses to favorable environments (β=1.0) and was also found to be relatively biologically more stable with a
CV=70.6%. Sima is one variety that based on its performance and stability stand even a higher chance for regional
registration especially now that it has been pre-released in Malawi, and Zimbabwe is also considering its release.
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