Improvement of restorer lines for strengthening pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) hybrid breeding in West and Central Africa

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum R. Br.) is an important staple and nutritious food crop in the semiarid and arid ecologies of South Asia (SA) and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In view of climate change, depleting water resources, and widespread malnutrition, there is a need to accelerate the rate of genetic gains in pearl millet productivity. This review discusses past strategies and future approaches to accelerate genetic gains to meet future demand. Pearl millet breeding in India has historically evolved very comprehensively from open-pollinated varieties development to hybrid breeding. Availability of stable cytoplasmic male sterility system with adequate restorers and strategic use of genetic resources from India and SSA laid the strong foundation of hybrid breeding. Genetic and cytoplasmic diversification of hybrid parental lines, periodic replacement of hybrids, and breeding disease-resistant and stress-tolerant cultivars have been areas of very high priority. As a result, an annual yield increase of 4% has been realized in the last three decades. There is considerable scope to further accelerate the efforts on hybrid breeding for drought-prone areas in SA and SSA. Heterotic grouping of hybrid parental lines is essential to sustain long-term genetic gains. Time is now ripe for mainstreaming of the nutritional traits improvement in pearl millet breeding programs. New opportunities are emerging to improve the efficiency and precision of breeding. Development and application of high-throughput genomic tools, speed breeding, and precision phenotyping protocols need to be intensified to exploit a huge wealth of native genetic variation available in pearl millet to accelerate the genetic gains.

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Identification of geographical gaps in the pearl millet germplasm conserved at ICRISAT genebank from West and Central Africa

Plant Genetic Resources ◽

10.1017/s147926210999013x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 45-51 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

H. D. Upadhyaya ◽

K. N. Reddy ◽

M. Irshad Ahmed ◽

C. L. L. Gowda ◽

B. I. G. Haussmann

Keyword(s):

Pearl Millet ◽

Abiotic Stresses ◽

High Probability ◽

Central Africa ◽

Government Officials ◽

Biotic And Abiotic Stresses ◽

Geographic Origins ◽

Centre Of Diversity ◽

West And Central Africa ◽

Semi Arid

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) genebank in India holds the world's largest collection of 21,594 pearl millet germplasm accessions including 18,447 landraces from 50 countries. West and Central Africa (WCA) region, which is considered as the centre of diversity for pearl millet, is also an important pearl millet germplasm source for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. A total of 7372 landraces were assembled from WCA countries. Out of which, 6434 landraces have the georeference data. The geographic origins of these landraces were analyzed using geographic information system tools to identify gaps in the collection. Geographical distribution of existing collections, type of vegetation, land cover and the high probability (>70%) for the occurrence of pearl millet estimated using the FloraMap software in different countries show that 62 districts in 13 provinces of Nigeria, 50 districts in 16 provinces of Burkina Faso, 9 districts in 6 provinces each of Mali and Mauritania, 8 districts in 8 provinces of Chad and 7 districts in 3 provinces of Ghana as the major geographical gaps in the pearl millet collection at the ICRISAT genebank. In view of this, we suggest that the final areas for exploration in these districts should be decided prior to the launch of the collection missions in consultation with local government officials and extension officers, who have the knowledge of pearl millet cultivation in the districts identified.

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Heterosis and Combining Abilities in a Diverse Seven-Parent Pearl Millet Population Diallel Tested in West Africa

10.21203/rs.3.rs-232609/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sonali Dutta ◽

Felix T. Sattler ◽

Anna Pucher ◽

Drabo Inoussa ◽

Ahmad Issaka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

West Africa ◽

Pearl Millet ◽

Combining Ability ◽

Pennisetum Glaucum ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Hybrid Breeding ◽

High Yield ◽

Variance Ratios ◽

High Heritability ◽

Quantitative Genetic Parameters

Abstract Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is an important food-security crop to smallholder farmers in West Africa (WA). Breeding for high yield and stability is a major challenge in the harsh environments of WA but could be tackled by hybrid breeding. Knowledge of combining ability patterns and quantitative-genetic parameters is required for an efficient development of hybrid varieties. Hence, our objectives were to estimate the combining ability of seven genetically diverse Sahelian pearl millet populations from Senegal, Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Sudan and Nigeria and the heterosis and stability of their 42 diallel-derived population hybrids to inform pearl millet hybrid breeding. The genotypes were evaluated in six environments in WA in 2007. Grain yield (GY) exhibited an average panmictic mid-parent heterosis (PMPH) of 24%, ranging from -1.51% to 64.69%. General combining ability (GCA) was significant across test environments as reflected by high heritability estimates and high GCA:SCA variance ratios. Thus, early selection for parental per se performance would be rewarding. The parental population from Sudan (IP8679) had strongly negative GCA for GY. Its lack of adaptation contributed to the predominance of additive effects in the present germplasm set. Parental populations PE02987 (Senegal), PE05344 (Mali) and ICMV IS 92222 (Niger) showed large positive GCA for GY. Their offspring, especially PE02987 × PE05344 and Kapelga × ICMV IS 92222, exhibited a high and stable GY across all test environments. Tapping the regional pearl millet genetic diversity seems therefore beneficial for hybrid breeding to increase pearl millet productivity in WA.

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Sorghum and Pearl Millet Diseases in West and Central Africa

Sorghum and Millets Diseases ◽

10.1002/9780470384923.ch70 ◽

2008 ◽

pp. 419-425 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Paul S. Marley ◽

Mamourou Diourt ◽

Adama Neya ◽

Stephen K. Nutsugah ◽

P. Srm ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pearl Millet ◽

Central Africa ◽

West And Central Africa

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Performance of dual-purpose pearl millet genotypes in West Africa: Importance of morphology and phenology

African Crop Science Journal ◽

10.4314/acsj.v28i4.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 481-498

Author(s):

D.D. Serba ◽

O. Sy ◽

M.D. Sanogo ◽

A. Issaka ◽

M. Ouedraogo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pearl Millet ◽

Pennisetum Glaucum ◽

Central Africa ◽

Genotype By Environment Interaction ◽

West African ◽

Environment Interaction ◽

Germplasm Exchange ◽

Dual Purpose ◽

Breeding Programmes ◽

Positive Correlations

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) is a cereal crop vital for food security in West and Central Africa. Its byproducts also serve as fodder for livestock, especially during dry seasons. The objective of this study was to evaluate selected genotypes from West African pearl millet breeding programmes, for dual-purpose (grain and fodder) and elucidate prospects for future breeding. A total of 83 open-pollinated varieties (OPVs), five composites, six landraces, one synthetic and five hybrids were evaluated at 14 environments in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Senegal during the rainy seasons of 2015 and 2016. Combined analysis of data revealed significant differences among genotypes and prevalence of high genotype-by-environment interaction effects. Two stability analyses models consistently indicated that genotypes 10 (SMILBF10), 14 (SMILBF14) and 39 (SMILML5) were widely adaptable across the region. Plant height, panicle length and panicle yield showed significant positive correlations with grain yield; while days to flowering was negatively correlated. Positive correlation between grain and fodder yields indicate possibility for simultaneous improvement involving the two important traits. This result suggests that germplasm exchange and regionally integrated breeding programmes are important for the identification of widely adapted dual-purpose varieties of pearl millet, particularly in West African drylands.

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Heterosis and combining abilities in a diverse seven-parent pearl millet population diallel tested in West Africa

Euphytica ◽

10.1007/s10681-021-02939-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 217 (12) ◽

Author(s):

Sonali Dutta ◽

Felix T. Sattler ◽

Anna Pucher ◽

Inoussa Drabo ◽

Ahmad Issaka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

West Africa ◽

Pearl Millet ◽

Combining Ability ◽

Pennisetum Glaucum ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Hybrid Vigor ◽

Hybrid Breeding ◽

High Yield ◽

Variance Ratios ◽

High Heritability

AbstractPearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] is an important food-security crop to smallholder farmers in West Africa (WA). Breeding for high yield and stability is a major challenge in the harsh environments of WA but could be tackled by a more systematic exploitation of hybrid vigor and heterosis in breeding of both open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) and different types of hybrids. Knowledge of combining ability patterns and quantitative-genetic parameters is required for an efficient development of hybrid vigor and heterosis in breeding programs. Hence, our objectives were to complement other existing studies and estimate the combining ability of seven unique, highly diverse Sahelian pearl millet populations from Senegal, Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Sudan and Nigeria and the heterosis and stability of their 42 diallel-derived population hybrids (or hybrid populations) to inform pearl millet OPV and hybrid breeding. The materials were evaluated in six environments in WA in 2007. Grain yield (GY) exhibited an average panmictic mid-parent heterosis of 24%, ranging from − 1.51 to 64.69%. General combining ability (GCA) was significant across test environments as reflected by high heritability estimates and high GCA:SCA variance ratios. Thus, early selection for parental per se performance would be rewarding. The parental population from Sudan (IP8679) had strongly negative GCA for GY. Its lack of adaptation contributed to the predominance of additive effects in the present germplasm set. Parental populations PE02987 (Senegal), PE05344 (Mali) and ICMV IS 92222 (Niger) showed large positive GCA for GY. Their offspring, especially PE02987 × PE05344 and Kapelga × ICMV IS 92222, exhibited a high and stable GY across all test environments. Tapping the regional pearl millet genetic diversity and preselecting the crossing parents seem beneficial for OPV and hybrid breeding to increase pearl millet productivity in WA.

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Assessing the effectiveness of agricultural R&D for groundnut, pearl millet, pigeonpea and sorghum in West and Central Africa and East and Southern Africa.

Crop improvement, adoption, and impact of improved varieties in food crops in sub-Saharan Africa ◽

10.1079/9781780644011.0123 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 123-147 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

J. Ndjeunga ◽

K. Mausch ◽

F. Simtowe

Keyword(s):

Pearl Millet ◽

Southern Africa ◽

Central Africa ◽

West And Central Africa

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Identification of High-Yielding Iron-Biofortified Open-Pollinated Varieties of Pearl Millet in West Africa

Frontiers in Plant Science ◽

10.3389/fpls.2021.688937 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Prakash I. Gangashetty ◽

Mohammed Riyazaddin ◽

Moussa Daouda Sanogo ◽

Drabo Inousa ◽

Kassari Ango Issoufou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

West Africa ◽

Grain Yield ◽

Pearl Millet ◽

Block Design ◽

Central Africa ◽

Field Performance ◽

Test Material ◽

Genotypic Differences ◽

West And Central Africa ◽

Micronutrient Malnutrition

Pearl millet is a predominant food and fodder crop in West Africa. This study was carried out to test the newly developed open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) for field performance and stability for grain yield, grain iron (Fe), and grain zinc (Zn) contents across 10 locations in West Africa (i.e., Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Ghana). The test material consisted of 30 OPVs, of which 8 are Fe/Zn biofortified. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design in three replications. ANOVA revealed highly significant variability for grain yield and micronutrient traits. The presence of genotype × environment (G × E) indicated that the expressions of traits are significantly influenced by both genetic and G × E factors, for grain Fe and Zn contents. Days to 50% flowering and plant height showed less G × E, suggesting these traits are largely under genetic control. The genotypes CHAKTI (46 days), ICTP 8203 (46 days), ICMV 177002 (50 days), ICMV 177003 (48 days), and Moro (53 days) had exhibited early flowering across locations leading to early physiological maturity. CHAKTI (1.42 t/ha yield; 62.24 mg/kg of grain Fe, 47.29 mg/kg of grain Zn) and ICMP 177002 (1.19 t/ha yield, 62.62 mg/kg of grain Fe, 46.62 mg/kg of grain Zn) have performed well for grain yield and also for micronutrients, across locations, compared with the check. Additive Main Effect and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) ANOVA revealed the highly significant genotypic differences, the mean sum of squares of environment, and its interaction with the genotypes. Based on the AMMI stability value (ASV), the most stable genotype is SOSAT-C88 (ASV = 0.04) for grain yield and resistance to downy mildew; mean grain yield and stability rankings (YSI) revealed that the genotypes CHAKTI, SOSAT-C88, and ICMV IS 99001 were high yielding and expressed stability across regions. The strong correlation (r = 0.98∗∗) of grain Fe and Zn contents that merits Fe-based selection is highly rewarding. CHAKTI outperformed over other genotypes for grain yield (71% higher), especially with early maturing varieties in West Africa, such as GB 8735, LCIC 9702, and Jirani, and for grain Fe (16.11% higher) and Zn (7% higher) contents across locations, and made a candidate of high-iron variety to be promoted for combating the micronutrient malnutrition in West and Central Africa (WCA).

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