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

Milestone C.3.1.18: Diversity and population structure of pearl millet composite collection analysed and
reference set (300 accessions) established (HDU/CTH/ RKV/SS/DH/CLLG/SC/JB, 2010)
Pearl Millet: A set of 1000 accessions of pearl millet composite collection were planted in the field. DNA was
extracted at 15 th day from leaf tissues of 15 plants by using high – through put method and quality checked by
using agarose gel electrophoresis. Quantification of DNA concentration has been done with fluorescence
detector and diluted to 5 ng/ul as working concentration in ABI 3700. Twenty polymorphic SSR were selected
for genotyping. PCR conditions optimized. Finger printing is in progress.
HD Upadhyaya, CT Hash, RK Varshney, S Senthelvel,
DA Hoisington, CLL Gowda, S.Chandra and B Jayashree
Milestone C.3.1.19: Diversity assessment of pearl millet published (HDU/CTH/SS/RKV/DH/SC/JB, 2010)
Milestone C.3.1.20: Data sets for pearl millet, finger millet, and foxtail millet composite sets made available
globally via Internet (JB/HDU/CTH/SS/RKV/CLLG/DH/SC, 2010)
Activity C.3.2: Diversity assessment in groundnut rosette virus resistant germplasm
Milestone C.3.2.1: The diversity of the sources of resistance to the groundnut rosette virus in groundnut
assessed and documented (ESM/HDU/Others, 2009)
Activity C.3.3: Phenotypic and genotypic diversity assessment of sorghum germplasm in eastern and
southern Africa
Milestone C.3.3.1: Phenotyping and genotyping of germplasm held by NARS (2006)
This study aims at characterizing and assessing diversity at the phenotypic and genotypic levels in sorghum
germplasm currently used in NARS breeding programs in east and central Africa. The germplasm includes
resources within national gene banks, international nurseries and important breeder germplasm. We have
adopted a standardized approach to documentation, phenotyping and also in molecular characterization of the
germplasm using 24 SSRs as part of the GCP set of high quality microsatellite markers that are being used for
the survey of global composite set of sorghum germplasm. A project planning meeting was held in April 2006 in
Nairobi, followed by a phenotyping workshop. Project partners agreed to work on a regional composite of 1720
accessions representing landraces, farmer varieties and breeders’ lines. Seed multiplication and phenotyping of
1260 Sorghum accessions has started in Eritrea, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Sudan. 27 consensus descriptors
representing all the sorghum developmental stages are being used for morphological characterization. These are
partially derived from the IPGRI descriptor lists for Sorghum. Characterization data is being generated and
documented in the Access Database developed during the phenotyping workshop. Genotyping activities have
been initiated, starting with the extraction, quantification and quality checks of DNA from 196 sorghum samples
from Tanzania. The DNA will be used both for genotyping and repository as part of the GCP Sorghum global
collection. Initial genotyping has started with the screening of 196 accessions using 6 polymorphic SSR
markers. All the 24 SSR markers that will be used for genotyping have been optimized and screened for
polymorphism. A database with an initial entry of 1260 germplasm accessions that are being phenotyped and
genotyped by the participating NARS has been developed. The information on the accessions mainly comprises
passport data and will be used to identify duplicates through the unique identifiers. Two PhD students have been
registered at the University of Wad Medani and University of Free State, South Africa to phenotype and
genotype 400 samples from Sudan. 4 MSc students have been registered in national universities in Ethiopia,
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to advance the phenotyping and genotyping activities.
D Kiambi, DA Hoisington, CT Hash and S de Villiers
Milestone C.3.3.2: Phenotypic characterization of sorghum germplasm held by ESA NARS completed (DK,
2007)
Knowledge of the extent, nature and structure of genetic diversity in crop germplasm accessions is important for
defining strategies for conservation and utilization. This project aims at characterizing and assessing diversity at
the phenotypic and genotypic levels in sorghum germplasm currently used in NARS breeding programs in east
and central Africa. The germplasm includes resources within national gene banks, international nurseries and
important breeder germplasm. The project has adopted a standardized approach to documentation, phenotyping
and also in molecular characterization of the germplasm using 24 SSRs as part of the GCP set of high quality
microsatellite markers that are being used for the survey of global composite set of sorghum germplasm. A
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