scholarly journals The Role and Contribution of Plant Breeding and Plant Biotechnology to Sustainable Agriculture in Africa

Afrika Focus ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Kyetere ◽  
E. Okogbenin ◽  
J. Okeno ◽  
K. Sanni ◽  
J. Munyaradzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Plant Breeding ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Green Revolution ◽  
Plant Biotechnology ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
High Productivity ◽  
High Yields ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Modern Breeding

Africa’s economy is driven by agriculture, a sector that constitutes 32% of the continent’s GDP. The ongoing Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) in Africa hinges on a system change (from subsistence farming to agribusiness) approach that explores high productivity to strengthen the African economy. During the “Green Revolution” period, increased global yields of cereal crops were achieved through the interactions of breeding and agronomy. However, in the face of current challenges, such as climate change and need for new market niches, there is an increasing exigency to explore modern plant breeding (including biotechnology) to develop new varieties with the capacity for high yields in reduced chemical-input systems and with the genetic diversity needed to maintain yield stability in Africa ́s fluctuating climatic conditions. Biotechnology has significantly shortened the time required for the development of new cultivars, varieties and hybrids. Modern breeding tools include Double Haploid technology, marker assisted breeding, genomics, genetic engineering and genome editing. It is these tools that help accelerate the development of market responsive varieties needed for sustainable agriculture in Africa that will be highlighted. KEY WORDS: TECHNOLOGY, CROP IMPROVEMENT, GENETICS, MODERN BREEDING TOOLS.

scholarly journals The Role and Contribution of Plant Breeding and Plant Biotechnology to Sustainable Agriculture in Africa

Afrika Focus ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-108
Author(s):  
D. Kyetere ◽  
E. Okogbenin ◽  
J. Okeno ◽  
J. Munyaradzi ◽  
F. Nangayo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Plant Breeding ◽  
Green Revolution ◽  
Plant Biotechnology ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
High Productivity ◽  
The Face ◽  
New Varieties ◽  
High Yields ◽  
Time Required

Africa’s economy is driven by agriculture, a sector that constitutes 32% of the continent’s GDP. The ongoing Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) in Africa hinges on a system change (from subsistence farming to agribusiness) approach that explores high productivity to strengthen the African economy. During the “Green Revolution” period, increased global yields of cereal crops were achieved through the interactions of breeding and agronomy. However, in the face of current challenges, such as climate change and need for new market niches, there is an increasing exigency to explore modern plant breeding (including biotechnology) to develop new varieties with the capacity for high yields in reduced chemical-input systems and with the genetic diversity needed to maintain yield stability in Africa´s fluctuating climatic conditions. Biotechnology has significantly shortened the time required for the development of new cultivars, varieties and hybrids. Modern breeding tools include Double Haploid technology, marker assisted breeding, genomics, genetic engineering and genome editing. It is these tools that help accelerate the development of market responsive varieties needed for sustainable agriculture in Africa that will be highlighted.

scholarly journals Analysis of the quinoa genome reveals conservation and divergence of the flowering pathways

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka A. Golicz ◽  
Ursula Steinfort ◽  
Hina Arya ◽  
Mohan B. Singh ◽  
Prem L. Bhalla
Keyword(s):  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Chenopodium Quinoa ◽  
Flower Initiation ◽  
Flowering Genes ◽  
The Andes ◽  
Grain Crop ◽  
Improvement Programs ◽  
Flowering Regulation ◽  
High Yields ◽  
Modern Breeding

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.

scholarly journals Michael Denis Gale. 25 August 1943—18 July 2009

2020 ◽  
Vol 69 ◽  
pp. 203-223
Author(s):  
Richard B. Flavell ◽  
John W. Snape
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Plant Breeding ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Green Revolution ◽  
Genetic Maps ◽  
Wheat Varieties ◽  
International Agricultural Research ◽  
Crop Genetics ◽  
Chromosome Segments

Michael (Mike) Gale was an internationally well-known crop geneticist with a career devoted mostly to wheat genetics. However, he also studied rice, maize, pearl millet and fox millet for the benefit of agriculture in developing countries. He brought new knowledge and techniques into plant breeding that made a difference to crop improvement worldwide. Noteworthy is his team's leadership in (i) defining the genetic basis of dwarfism in wheat, the major genetic innovation underlying the previously achieved ‘green revolution’ in wheat production; (ii) expanding knowledge of ‘pre-harvest sprouting’, which occurs in many wheat varieties growing in temperate climates, which reduces their flour quality and value; (iii) developing the first comprehensive genetic maps of wheat based on isozymic and DNA-based molecular markers; and (iv) developing the comparative genetics of grasses based on the conserved order of genes on chromosome segments, consistent with the evolution of the species from a common ancestor. These discoveries had a major impact in plant genetics. His team also provided the worldwide cereal geneticists and breeding communities with technologies and genetic markers that accelerated the development of cereal genetics and facilitated more efficient plant breeding. He made major and influential contributions to international agricultural research, particularly targeted at developing countries, through his participation on international and national committees, including those of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research. His contribution helped to drive the international research agenda for crop genetics, plant breeding and plant science generally.

scholarly journals Selection of pairs for intervarietal crossing of root chicory

2021 ◽  
pp. 58-62
Author(s):  
O. M. Vyutnova ◽  
I. V. Smirnova ◽  
E. A. Evseeva ◽  
T. Yu. Polyanina ◽  
N. A. Ratnikova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Source Material ◽  
Short Root ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Root Crop ◽  
High Productivity ◽  
The Creation ◽  
High Yields ◽  
Selection Of

Relevance. Modern agricultural production requires the creation of varieties that combine high productivity, quality, and adaptability. Taking into account the development trends of modern agriculture towards multiplicity, it is necessary to improve and expand the assortment, helping to meet the needs of both large and small producers of agricultural products. Due to the lack of material and human resources in the agricultural sector, there is a clear need for varieties and hybrids adapted to industrial cultivation and storage technologies. Existing zoned varieties of root chicory have a root crop length of 40 cm or more, and the soils of the area of cycoroseeding are mainly heavy in mechanical composition, where the use of digging devices to such a depth is impossible. Production requires varieties with a short root crop, which has the main mass concentrated in the upper part.Methods. The purpose of this work is to identify valuable genotypes in the soil and climate conditions of the non-Chernozem zone of the Russian Federation among the variety of varieties of chicory root of different ecological and geographical origin for use in the creation of the source material of selection by inter-port crosses.Results. When creating the source material for the selection of root chicory by the method of intervarietal crosses, one of the parents should choose local intrazonal varieties adapted to the soil and climatic conditions of the zone (Yaroslavsky, Gavrilov-Yamsky), and the second – off-zonal varieties with economically valuable qualities (short root crop, high yields and chemical-technological indicators, resistance to root rot) and donors of these traits (Kharpachi, Sleszka, BilogorkaOS-2, BilogorkaOS-3, Rexor, Wixor, Luxor).

Biotechnological approaches for the control of plant morphogenesis and their applications in agriculture

Genome ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 1034-1041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Otto J. Crocomo
Keyword(s):  
Transgenic Plants ◽  
Plant Cell ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Embryo Rescue ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Plant Biotechnology ◽  
Hybrid Embryo ◽  
New Varieties ◽  
Cell Genome ◽  
Time Required

As plant biotechnology is an application of cell engineering by which the plant cell genome is manipulated to improve agricultural productivity, leading to increases in production, many fundamental questions related to crop improvement arise, such as (i) how to propagate a great number of plants in a small space and within a shorter period of time; (ii) how to control the reversion to juvenility in forest species; (iii) how to decrease the time required to release new varieties to plant producers; (iv) how to control pests without causing environmental pollution; (v) how to regenerate intact transgenic plants after DNA insertion into protoplasts; (vi) how to transfer genetic characters between incompatible plant species; (vii) how to obtain somaclones resistant to adverse conditions; (viii) identification of the molecular mechanisms governing the processes of plant cell morphogenesis and how to control them to obtain better agricultural performance. Many of these questions are being studied in our laboratory and the results are discussed here.Key words: plant biotechnology, micropropagation, transgenic plants, somaclonal variation, hybrid embryo rescue, plant tissue culture.

Influence of formulations of nitrogen fertilizes on oil flax productivity under conditions of western forest-steppe

2018 ◽  
pp. 108-114
Keyword(s):  
Ammonium Sulfate ◽  
Mineral Fertilizer ◽  
Flaxseed Oil ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizers ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
Simultaneous Application ◽  
Traditional System ◽  
Carpathian Region ◽  
High Yields

The results of studies on the influence of forms and doses of nitrogen fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, urea, carbamide-ammonia mixture, ammonium sulfate) on the productivity of oil flax under the conditions of the western forest-steppe are given. In the traditional system of fertilizer, oil flax is not able to provide high yields and quality products. An effective solution to this is optimization of plant nutrition due to its balance, which promotes intensive plant development, makes it possible to actively and efficiently intervene in the process of harvesting and its quality. Therefore, determining the optimal fertilizer rate for oil flax in specific soil-climatic conditions is important for obtaining stable and high yields of culture. The purpose of our research was to determine the contribution of doses and forms of nitrogen fertilizers to the productivity of flaxseed oil in the soil-climatic conditions of the western forest-steppe. The research was carried out in 2016-2018 at the experimental field of the Institute of Agriculture of the Carpathian region of NAAS in five-point crop rotation with the total area of the plant growing on a gray forest surface glued type of soil In general, four forms of nitrogen fertilizers were studied: ammonia, nitrate, carbamide-ammonia mixture, urea and ammonium sulfate, which were added in doses: N30; N45 one time; and N30 + N15 under pre-sowing cultivation and in the "fir tree" phase against the background of P30K60. The total number of variants was 16. The object of research was a variety of flax oilseed crops of breeding of the Institute of Oilseeds of NAAS. The seed sowing rate is 6 mln similar seed per hectare. According to the results of three-year studies, the effect of intensification of mineral nitrogen feed and various forms of nitrogen fertilizers on the indices of the elements of productivity and yield of flaxseed oil has been established. In particular, it was found that their use had little effect on the density change of plant stem growth. The use of nitrogen fertilizers in the dose N45 on the background of P30K60 improved plant survival (killed during the vegetation of 0.33-0.42 million pp./ha, which is 5.2-6.3 % for control, where the death observed 0.58 million ppm/ha or 8.4 %)) compared to the N30 dose (0.39-0.49 million pcs/ha). In addition, the use of the dose N45 separately (N30 under cultivation + N15 in the phase of the "fir tree") also improved the survival rate of plants (5.2-5.8 % of dead plants) compared with the simultaneous application of N45 cultivation (5.6-7.1 %) The percentage of deaths grew in control (without fertilizers) - 8.4 % against the background of P30K60 - 7.0 %. The application of various forms and doses of nitrogen fertilizers led to an increase in the control of the elements of productivity. The introduction of N45 against the background of P30K60 contributed to an increase in the number of boxes on plants, according to the variants of fertilizers, this index varied from 14.6 to 18.3 pieces per plant (10.9 - on the control, 12.9 pcs/roll - on the РК background), increasing the amount of seeds per plant by 12.7 pc. per plant, a mass of 1000 seeds per 0.2-0.3 g compared with the control and 0.1-0.2 g compared with the LCD background, where this figure was 6.8 g. On average, over the years of research, the highest productivity of flax seed of oilseed Vodograi (2,27 and 2,48 t / ha) was obtained provided the mineral fertilizer N15P30K60 was applied for cultivation in combination with carbamide feed in the phase of "fir tree" at a dose of N15. When using the nitrogen component in the form of KAS, the gain to control was 1.45 t / ha, to the background - 1.12 t/ha. In control and against the background, this indicator was 1.04 and 1.36 t/ha respectively. When using other forms of nitrogen fertilizers on the background of P30K60, lower yields of flaxseed crops were obtained (1.37-1.38 t/ha). The introduction of the N45 separately (N30 under cultivation + N15 into the "fir tree" phase) generally led to higher performance than a single application for cultivation. Among the studied forms of fertilizers, urea and carbamide-ammonia also caused a slightly higher percentage of fiber content in flax stems, however, it was within the experimental error and was not significantly increased.

scholarly journals Evolution and Application of Genome Editing Techniques for Achieving Food and Nutritional Security

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5585
Author(s):  
Sajid Fiaz ◽  
Sunny Ahmar ◽  
Sajjad Saeed ◽  
Aamir Riaz ◽  
Freddy Mora-Poblete ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Abiotic Stress ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Plant Breeding ◽  
Genome Editing ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Hybrid Seed Production ◽  
Biotic And Abiotic Stress ◽  
Transcription Activator ◽  
Protein System ◽  
Breeding Techniques

A world with zero hunger is possible only through a sustainable increase in food production and distribution and the elimination of poverty. Scientific, logistical, and humanitarian approaches must be employed simultaneously to ensure food security, starting with farmers and breeders and extending to policy makers and governments. The current agricultural production system is facing the challenge of sustainably increasing grain quality and yield and enhancing resistance to biotic and abiotic stress under the intensifying pressure of climate change. Under present circumstances, conventional breeding techniques are not sufficient. Innovation in plant breeding is critical in managing agricultural challenges and achieving sustainable crop production. Novel plant breeding techniques, involving a series of developments from genome editing techniques to speed breeding and the integration of omics technology, offer relevant, versatile, cost-effective, and less time-consuming ways of achieving precision in plant breeding. Opportunities to edit agriculturally significant genes now exist as a result of new genome editing techniques. These range from random (physical and chemical mutagens) to non-random meganucleases (MegaN), zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/associated protein system 9 (CRISPR/Cas9), the CRISPR system from Prevotella and Francisella1 (Cpf1), base editing (BE), and prime editing (PE). Genome editing techniques that promote crop improvement through hybrid seed production, induced apomixis, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stress are prioritized when selecting for genetic gain in a restricted timeframe. The novel CRISPR-associated protein system 9 variants, namely BE and PE, can generate transgene-free plants with more frequency and are therefore being used for knocking out of genes of interest. We provide a comprehensive review of the evolution of genome editing technologies, especially the application of the third-generation genome editing technologies to achieve various plant breeding objectives within the regulatory regimes adopted by various countries. Future development and the optimization of forward and reverse genetics to achieve food security are evaluated.

Access to plant genetic resources for genomic research for the poor: from global policies to target-oriented rules

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niels P. Louwaars ◽  
Eva Thörn ◽  
José Esquinas-Alcázar ◽  
Shumin Wang ◽  
Abebe Demissie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Breeding ◽  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Plant Genetic Resources ◽  
Green Revolution ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Genomic Research ◽  
Benefit Sharing ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Multilateral System

Applied genetics combined with practical plant breeding is a powerful tool in agricultural development and for food security. The Green Revolution spurred the world's potential to meet its food, feed and fibre needs at a time when vast regions were notoriously food-insecure. Subsequent adaptations of such strategies, from the late 1980s onwards, in order to develop new plant varieties in a more participatory way, have strengthened the focus on applying technology to farmers' diverse needs, feeding research results into a variety of seed systems. During these developments, there were no major legal impediments to the acquisition of either local or formal knowledge or of the building blocks of plant breeding: genetic resources. The emergence of molecular biology in plant science is creating a wealth of opportunities, both to understand better the limitations of crop production and to use a much wider array of genetic diversity in crop improvement. This ‘Gene Revolution’ needs to incorporate the lessons from the Green Revolution in order to reach its target groups. However, the policy environment has changed. Access to technologies is complicated by the spread of private rights (intellectual property rights), and access to genetic resources by new national access laws. Policies on access to genetic resources have changed from the concept of the ‘Heritage of Mankind’ for use for the benefit of all mankind to ‘National Sovereignty’, based on the Convention on Biological Diversity, for negotiated benefit-sharing between a provider and a user. The Generation Challenge Programme intends to use genomic techniques to identify and use characteristics that are of value to the resource-poor, and is looking for ways to promote freedom-to-operate for plant breeding technologies and materials. Biodiversity provides the basis for the effective use of these genomic techniques. National access regulations usually apply to all biodiversity indiscriminately and may cause obstacles or delays in the use of genetic resources in agriculture. Different policies are being developed in different regions. Some emphasize benefit-sharing, and limit access in order to implement this (the ‘African Model Law’), while others, in recognition of countries' interdependence, provide for facilitated access to all genetic resources under the jurisdiction of countries in the region (the Nordic Region). There are good reasons why the use of agricultural biodiversity needs to be regulated differently from industrial uses of biodiversity. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, which entered into force in 2004, provides for facilitated access to agricultural genetic resources, at least for the crops that are included in the Treaty's ‘Multilateral System of Access and Benefit-sharing’. Ratification of the Treaty is proceeding apace, and negotiations have entered a critical stage in the development of practical instruments for its implementation. Although the scope of the Treaty is all plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, there are important crops that are not covered by its Multilateral System. Humanitarian licences are being used to provide access for the poor to protected technologies: countries may need to create such a general humanitarian access regime, to ensure the poor have the access they need to agricultural genetic resources.

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