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

Project 3
Producing more and better food of the staple cereals and legumes of the west and central
African (WCA) SAT (sorghum, pearl millet and groundnut) through genetic improvement
Output 3A. Heterotic relationships identified and utilized within sorghum and pearl millet germplasm
adapted to WCA conditions and appropriate broad-based breeding populations and hybrid parents and
made available to NARS and other partners annually to maximise genetic gain from selection
MTP Output Targets 2006
Multi-location testing of 100 pearl millet factorial crosses and parental populations completed at 6 locations to
determine heterotic patterns
Multiplication and advance to BC5 generation of short statured Guinea-race A/B pairs of sorghum for the first time
in west Africa
Impact from varietal improvement of the local dryland cereals of West and Central Africa (WCA) has seemingly
lagged behind that of other crops and other regions. In recent years the ICRISAT team in WCA has made systematic
efforts to improve this situation, by reorienting its breeding efforts towards farmers’ expressed needs and
preferences, by integrating varietal improvement efforts with natural resource management research, enhancing
local cereal seed systems efficiently; and by starting to exploit heterosis within the well adapted locally widely
grown guinea race sorghums. During 2006 we have been able to identify a set of hybrids based on guinea race
sorghum landrace parents, which have potential for adoption by farmers, as they provide stable and significant
heterosis across a range of test locations, on-farm and on-station. Producing seed of these hybrids appears to be
feasible after our first experiences.
We have indications for consistent patterns of heterosis between different groups of guinea race sorghums from
West-Africa. Sets of accessions representing these different groups of germplasm are presently under going SSR
based marker analysis.
ICRISAT strengthened its capacities in Pearl Millet Breeding in WCA by recruiting a Senior Scientist in 2005. The
program has gained strength and momentum by attracting a range of special donor funded projects. Thus research on
heterotic grouping, developing potential hybrid parental lines based on West-African pearl millet germplasm is well
under way.
Regional collaboration among the cereal breeders of the main cereal producing countries has been strengthened.
Planning workshops, joint trials, joint monitoring tours of specific trials sites, and a regular information exchange
are creating new dynamics for reviving hybrid breeding efforts among our partners.
Output target 3A1: Access of NARS to pearl millet and sorghum diversity enhanced
For pearl millet 360 early to medium-maturing pearl millet accessions originating from West-Africa were evaluated
in the rainy season 2006 at six locations across WCA (Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria). Similarly, 64
long-duration accessions were evaluated in the same season at 3 locations in the Sudanian zone, or with
supplemental irrigation (Senegal, Mali, Niger). Breeders and farmers in the different countries and stations evaluated
and selected germplam lines for different agronomic and traits that could be important for processing or
commercialization. While the network of breeders intends to select materials for studies on heterotic groups, and for
the creation of new broader based populations, each breeder can select materials for their own program, or for direct
use. Patterns of adaptation among the WCA landraces are being examined carefully. An initial analysis was
published in International Sorghum and Millets Newsletter (ISMN).
Sorghum breeders in the region have received locally adapted breeding materials and newly characterized
accessions of guinea race sorghums on request, for specific zones of adaptation, and for specific uses. New groups
of germplasm are being evaluated for use in the regional selection program, as well as for direct use by national
programs. At present a set of earlier flowering materials from northern Nigeria and Cameroon is being assessed for
widening the diversity of available breeding materials.
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