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Four Seasons of Learning and Engaging Smallholder Farmers - icrisat

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1200<br />

1000<br />

Frequency<br />

800<br />

600<br />

400<br />

Non Stressed<br />

Stressed<br />

200<br />

0<br />

0.32-10.31 10.32-20.31 20.32-30.31 30.32-40.31 40.32-50.31 50.32-60.31<br />

weight<br />

Figure 5-7: Seed weight (g) per plant<br />

Making crosses <strong>and</strong> developing segregating populations<br />

The best <strong>of</strong> the germplasm lines in terms <strong>of</strong> enhanced drought tolerance were crossed to one another<br />

<strong>and</strong> also to improved breeding lines that farmers had selected during PVS. There were over 200 cross<br />

combinations comprising single crosses, three way crosses <strong>and</strong> double crosses. These have been advanced<br />

to F 8<br />

, F 7<br />

, F 6<br />

<strong>and</strong> F 5<br />

generations, depending on when the crosses were made. Additional crosses have been<br />

made using lines obtained from our collaborating NARS breeders’ nurseries. Selection will be made from<br />

these segregating populations for plants with superior drought tolerance <strong>and</strong> also possessing traits desired<br />

by farmers <strong>and</strong> consumers.<br />

Number <strong>of</strong> crosses made <strong>and</strong> advanced<br />

Single crosses = 38<br />

Three way crosses = 83<br />

Double cross = 85<br />

Crosses with lines from IER <strong>and</strong> INRAN = 17 (In F 3<br />

<strong>and</strong> F 4<br />

generations)<br />

Screening for resistance to aphids<br />

The cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora) is a major pest <strong>of</strong> cowpea, especially at the seedling stage (particularly<br />

when there is drought). A combination <strong>of</strong> aphid attack <strong>and</strong> drought could have devastating effects on<br />

cowpea seedlings in the field. Many <strong>of</strong> the varieties that were developed with resistance to this pest now<br />

succumb to it. We have screened a number <strong>of</strong> cowpea germplasm lines but found very low levels <strong>of</strong><br />

resistance among them. Wild cowpea relatives were also screened for resistance to this pest <strong>and</strong> about<br />

three <strong>of</strong> them that are cross compatible with cowpea were detected with moderate to good levels <strong>of</strong><br />

resistance to aphid (Figure 4). Efforts are on to introgress the resistance genes into some FPVs.<br />

Progress <strong>of</strong> Phase 1<br />

99

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