Linking Basic Research to Crop Improvement Programs in Developing Countries

Author(s):  
Ruben L. Villareal
Author(s):  
Pallavi Sinha ◽  
Vikas K. Singh ◽  
Abhishek Bohra ◽  
Arvind Kumar ◽  
Jochen C. Reif ◽  
...  

Abstract Key message Integrating genomics technologies and breeding methods to tweak core parameters of the breeder’s equation could accelerate delivery of climate-resilient and nutrient rich crops for future food security. Abstract Accelerating genetic gain in crop improvement programs with respect to climate resilience and nutrition traits, and the realization of the improved gain in farmers’ fields require integration of several approaches. This article focuses on innovative approaches to address core components of the breeder’s equation. A prerequisite to enhancing genetic variance (σ2g) is the identification or creation of favorable alleles/haplotypes and their deployment for improving key traits. Novel alleles for new and existing target traits need to be accessed and added to the breeding population while maintaining genetic diversity. Selection intensity (i) in the breeding program can be improved by testing a larger population size, enabled by the statistical designs with minimal replications and high-throughput phenotyping. Selection priorities and criteria to select appropriate portion of the population too assume an important role. The most important component of breeder′s equation is heritability (h2). Heritability estimates depend on several factors including the size and the type of population and the statistical methods. The present article starts with a brief discussion on the potential ways to enhance σ2g in the population. We highlight statistical methods and experimental designs that could improve trait heritability estimation. We also offer a perspective on reducing the breeding cycle time (t), which could be achieved through the selection of appropriate parents, optimizing the breeding scheme, rapid fixation of target alleles, and combining speed breeding with breeding programs to optimize trials for release. Finally, we summarize knowledge from multiple disciplines for enhancing genetic gains for climate resilience and nutritional traits.


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-294
Author(s):  
Muhammad Sajjad Iqbal ◽  
Abdul Ghafoor

Study revealed a first report of proteomics variation in Nigella sativa L. based on analyzing 32 accessions through SDS-PAGE. Three prominent regions along eight subunits were identified. Intra specific variation was observed low whereas the sharpness of bands was high between first and second regions. It was noted that in second region there was no clear evidence of band formation in N. sativa. Prominent and sharp protein peptide bands were recorded in four accessions, namely PK-020561, PK-020609, PK-020620 and PK-020646. Further investigation of single seeds showed almost similar genetic pattern within the single accession. Five clusters were formed on the basis of Euclidean distance. Cluster-I & II contain 1, 1 accession each, likewise Cluster-III and C-IV contain 2, 2 accessions whereas Cluster-V was found diversified as consisted of 26 accessions. Two accessions PK-020878 and PK-020877 were recommended for polymorphism and crop improvement programs. Bangladesh J. Bot. 50(2): 289-294, 2021 (June)


Author(s):  
Ali Hussain Al Lawati ◽  
Saleem Kaseemsaheb Nadaf ◽  
Nadiya Abubakar Al Saady ◽  
Saleh Ali Al Hinai ◽  
Almandhar Almamari ◽  
...  

Oman is endowed with enormous diversity of important food crops that have global significance for food security and has ancient history of cultivation of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with its divergent landraces, which are useful in crop improvement. 55 indigenous Omani accessions conserved at the USDA were evaluated in the winter season (November to April) of the years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 on loamy soil under sprinklers in augmented design with 5 check varieties in 5 replications following crop husbandry practices as per national recommendations using 9 quantitative (descriptors) and 6 qualitative traits (anthocyanin pigmentation on plant parts). The data on traits were subjected not only for PC values and D values after varimax rotation through Kaiser normalization in Principal Component Analysis (PCA) but also for Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC). The results indicated that indigenous bread wheat accessions were significantly different (p>0.05) for all the quantitative traits except number of tillers. The multivariate analyses led to formation of four diverse clusters from PCA analyses corresponding to four quadrants of bi-plot graphs and three clusters from AHC analysis corresponding to main clades of dendrogram. The parents were selected from common accessions of distinct clusters in all the multivariate analyses for hybridization for improving characters of growth for higher yield or productivity with pigmentation on one or two plant parts useful for DUS test of varieties. The indigenous bread wheat landraces / accessions were genetically diverse and have potential for use in national crop improvement programs for earliness and higher grain productivity with distinct identification markers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-286
Author(s):  
Sandhani Saikia ◽  
Pratap Jyoti Handique ◽  
Mahendra K Modi

Genetic diversity is the source of novel allelic combinations that can be efficiently utilized in any crop improvement program. To facilitate future crop improvement programs in rice, a study was designed to identify the underlying genetic variations in the Sali rice germplasms of Assam using SSR markers. The 129 SSR markers that were used in the study amplified a total of 765 fragments with an average of 5.93 alleles per locus. The Shannon's Information Index was found to be in the range from 0.533 to 1.786. The Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) fell into the range from 0.304 to 0.691 with a mean value of 0.55. The overall FST value was found to be 0.519 that indicated the presence of genetic differentiation amongst the genotypes used in the study. The Sali population was divided into two clusters. The information obtained from the present study will facilitate the genetic improvement of Sali rice cultivars.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka A. Golicz ◽  
Ursula Steinfort ◽  
Hina Arya ◽  
Mohan B. Singh ◽  
Prem L. Bhalla

Abstract Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a grain crop grown in the Andes renowned as a highly nutritious plant exhibiting tolerance to abiotic stress such as drought, cold and high salinity. Quinoa grows across a range of latitudes corresponding to differing day lengths, suggesting regional adaptations of flowering regulation. Improved understanding and subsequent modification of the flowering process, including flowering time, ensuring high yields, is one of the key factors behind expansion of cultivation zones and goals of the crop improvement programs worldwide. However, our understanding of the molecular basis of flower initiation and development in quinoa is limited. Here, we use a computational approach to perform genome-wide identification and analysis of 611 orthologues of the Arabidopsis thaliana flowering genes. Conservation of the genes belonging to the photoperiod, gibberellin and autonomous pathways was observed, while orthologues of the key genes found in the vernalisation pathway (FRI, FLC) were absent from the quinoa genome. Our analysis indicated that on average each Arabidopsis flowering gene has two orthologous copies in quinoa. Several genes including orthologues of MIF1, FT and TSF were identified as homologue-rich genes in quinoa. We also identified 459 quinoa-specific genes uniquely expressed in the flower and/or meristem, with no known orthologues in other species. The genes identified provide a resource and framework for further studies of flowering in quinoa and related species. It will serve as valuable resource for plant biologists, crop physiologists and breeders to facilitate further research and establishment of modern breeding programs for quinoa.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 4751
Author(s):  
San Choi ◽  
Jongtaik Lee ◽  
Hyun-Woo Park

The essence of the experience of East Asia has been on technological capability building and dynamic industrial transitions from one stage to the next. While many studies for understanding the catch-up process and post catch-up agendas exist, empirical and comparative studies that consider the transition from catch-up to post catch-up are still rare. The significance of this research can be summarized in two ways. First, this study verifies the conformity of existing major catch-up to post catch-up transition studies with quantitative evidence. Second, by comparing commonalities and patterns from South Korea and China, this study examines the generality of the discourses and arguments about the transition from catch-up to post catch-up. The reflexive study of understanding transition from catch-up to post catch-up was conducted with a technology cycle time (TCT), self-citation ratio at a country level, and the basic research expenditure of Korea and China by using the US Patents and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) patent citation (for technology cycle time & self-citation ratio) and OECD’s database (basic research expenditure and gross domestic expenditure on basic research) for time period from 1998 to 2012. Empirical evidence of technology cycle time, self-citation ratio and gross domestic expenditure on basic research matched well with the prior transition arguments. First, Korea’s case shows a post catch-up trend with an increasing technology cycle time while China’s case presents catch-up trend (short-cycle period) and shifts to post catch-up trend (post catch-up trend). Self-citation ratios for both countries show increasing and converging pattern. In terms of basic research activities, both countries show increasing pattern. Korea exceeded the gross domestic expenditure on basic research of Japan and the US. Even though, China’s gross domestic expenditure on basic research has been tripled from 1998 to 2012, China’s gross domestic expenditure on basic research has still a long way to go to close the gap and to show a converging pattern. Many developing countries that once experienced a certain level of successful catch-up did not overcome the middle income trap have fallen behind. Understanding transition process of catch-up to post catch-up discussed in this paper may present a better understanding of long-term sequential development and economic sustainability of developing countries.


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