scholarly journals Genetic Diversification and Selection Strategies for Improving Sorghum Grain Yield Under Phosphorous-Deficient Conditions in West Africa

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 742
Author(s):  
Chiaka Diallo ◽  
H. Frederick W. Rattunde ◽  
Vernon Gracen ◽  
Aboubacar Touré ◽  
Baloua Nebié ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Soil Phosphorus ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Recurrent Parent ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Nested Association Mapping ◽  
Design Selection ◽  
Sorghum Grain

Sorghum, a major crop for income generation and food security in West and Central Africa, is predominantly grown in low-input farming systems with serious soil phosphorus (P) deficiencies. This study (a) estimates genetic parameters needed to design selection protocols that optimize genetic gains for yield under low-phosphorus conditions and (b) examines the utility of introgressed backcross nested association mapping (BCNAM) populations for diversifying Malian breeding materials. A total of 1083 BC1F5 progenies derived from an elite hybrid restorer “Lata-3” and 13 diverse donor accessions were evaluated for yield and agronomic traits under contrasting soil P conditions in Mali in 2013. A subset of 298 progenies were further tested under low-P (LP) and high-P (HP) conditions in 2014 and 2015. Significant genetic variation for grain yield was observed under LP and HP conditions. Selection for grain yield under LP conditions was feasible and more efficient than the indirect selection under HP in all three years of testing. Several of the BCNAM populations exhibited yields under LP conditions that were superior to the elite restorer line used as a recurrent parent. The BCNAM approach appears promising for diversifying the male parent pool with introgression of diverse materials using both adapted Malian breed and unadapted landrace material from distant geographic origins as donors.

scholarly journals Natural variation further increases resilience of sorghum bred for chronically drought–prone environments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongxu Dong ◽  
Techale Birhan ◽  
Nezif Abajebel ◽  
Misganu Wakjira ◽  
Tesfaye Mitiku ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Moisture Stress ◽  
Recurrent Parent ◽  
Stay Green ◽  
Natural Genetic Variation ◽  
Nested Association Mapping ◽  
Drought Resilience ◽  
Flowering Regulator ◽  
Sorghum Grain

Abstract Climate–change–associated shifts in rainfall distribution together with a looming worldwide water crisis make drought resilience of central importance to food security. Even for relatively drought resilient crops such as sorghum, moisture stress is nonetheless one of the major constraints for production. Here, we explore the potential to use natural genetic variation to build on the inherent drought tolerance of an elite cultivar (Teshale) bred for Ethiopian conditions including chronic drought, evaluating a backcross nested-association mapping (BC–NAM) population using 12 diverse founder lines crossed with Teshale under three drought-prone environments in Ethiopia. All twelve populations averaged higher head exsertion and lower leaf senescence than the recurrent parent in the two highest-stress environments, reflecting new drought resilience mechanisms from the donors. A total of 154 QTLs were detected for eight drought responsive traits – the validity of these were supported in that 100 (64.9%) overlapped with QTLs previously detected for the same traits, concentrated in regions previously associated with ′stay-green′ traits as well as the flowering regulator Ma6 and drought resistant gene P5CS2. Allele effects show that some favorable alleles are already present in the Ethiopian cultivar, however the exotic donors offer rich scope for increasing drought resilience. Using model-selected SNPs associated with eight traits in this study and three in a companion study, phenotypic prediction accuracies for grain yield were equivalent to genome-wide SNPs and were significantly better than random SNPs, indicating that these studied traits are predictive of sorghum grain yield. Rich scope for improving drought resilience even in cultivars bred for drought–prone regions, together with phenotypic prediction accuracy for grain yield, provides a foundation to enhance food security in drought-prone areas like the African Sahel.

scholarly journals Effect of introducing frogs and fish on soil phosphorus availability dynamics and their relationship with rice yield in paddy fields

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaimiao Lin ◽  
Jianping Wu
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Rice Yield ◽  
Soil Phosphorus ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Paddy Fields ◽  
Rice Grain ◽  
P Availability ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Labile P ◽  
Rice Fish

AbstractThe long-term impacts of introducing frogs and fish on rice yield and soil P availability are largely underestimated and undervalued. A 9-year field experiment compared the soil phosphorus fraction dynamics and their relationship with rice yield in rice-frog-fish (RFF) cultures, rice-fish (RF) cultures and rice-only (RO) cultures in southeastern China paddy fields. The yields in the RFF and RF cultures were notably higher than those in the RO culture, by 22.1% and 6.8%, respectively. Soil total P ranged from 345.5 to 385.6 mg kg−1 among all the farming systems, with the smallest amount found in the RO culture. There were only slight changes in the distribution of soil phosphorus fractions with time. The concentrations of NaHCO3-Pi and NaHCO3-Po were significantly higher in the RFF and RF cultures compared with those in the RO culture, and most of the NaOH-Pi and NaOH-Po fractions were greater in the RFF and RF cultures compared with those in the RO culture. The rice grain yield was significantly correlated with labile P and slowly cycling P. Introducing frogs and fish might be useful for increasing soil active P supplies and meeting rice nutrient requirements. This study concluded that RFF is the best practice for improving rice grain yields and soil fertility in paddy fields.

Consistency of performance of early-maturing maize cultivars in Striga-infested and Striga-free environments

2015 ◽  
Vol 95 (6) ◽  
pp. 1073-1084
Author(s):  
Baffour Badu-Apraku ◽  
Chabi Yallou ◽  
Muhyideen Oyekunle ◽  
Richard Akinwale ◽  
G. Aweke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Striga Hermonthica ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Maize Cultivars ◽  
Striga Resistance ◽  
Early Maturing ◽  
Republic Of Benin ◽  
High Consistency

Badu-Apraku, B., Yallou, C., Oyekunle, M., Akinwale, R., Aweke, G. and Kamara, A. 2015. Consistency of performance of early-maturing maize cultivars in Striga-infested and Striga-free environments. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 1073–1084. Despite the immense potential of maize (Zea mays L.) in savannas of West and Central Africa (WCA), production and productivity is constrained by Striga hermonthica parasitism. Sixteen early-maturing cultivars were evaluated at two locations in Nigeria and three locations in the Republic of Benin from 2007 to 2009 to assess the grain yield, stability and the consistency of the rankings of the cultivars under Striga-infested and Striga-free environments. The combined analysis of variance showed significant (P<0.01) cultivar and cultivar×environment interactions for grain yield and other traits under Striga-infested and Striga-free environments. The test of concordance was significant (P<0.001) for grain yield (W=0.68), number of emerged Striga plants (W=0.74) and Striga damage (W=0.56) under Striga infestation, indicating stability of resistance in the cultivars developed from diverse sources under artificial S. hermonthica infestation across environments. There was high consistency of the rankings of the cultivars for grain yield and other Striga-resistance traits under Striga-infested and Striga-free environments in Benin and Nigeria. The additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) biplot analysis for grain yield revealed POOL15SR/ACR94TZECOMP5-W/ACR94TZECOMP5-W and 2004 TZE-Y Pop DT STR C4 as the most stable cultivars with above-average mean grain yield in Striga-infested environments and they can be combined with other crop management options to control the parasite in the Striga endemic environments. Cultivars TZE Comp 5-W C7F2 and TZE Comp5-Y C6 S6 (Set B) had less Striga damage and number of emerged Striga plants across test environments. These cultivars could therefore serve as unique sources of favorable alleles for improving Striga resistance in maize in different production environments and farming systems.

Soil phosphorus tests II: A comparison of soil test–crop response relationships for different soil tests and wheat

2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon D. Speirs ◽  
Brendan J. Scott ◽  
Philip W. Moody ◽  
Sean D. Mason
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Confidence Intervals ◽  
Buffer Capacity ◽  
Soil Phosphorus ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Soil Tests ◽  
P Values ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Soil P Test ◽  
R Value

The performance of a wide range of soil phosphorus (P) testing methods that included established (Colwell-P, Olsen-P, BSES-P, and CaCl2-P) and more recently introduced methods (DGT-P and Mehlich 3-P) was evaluated on 164 archived soil samples corresponding to P fertiliser response experiments with wheat (Triticum aestivum) conducted in south-eastern Australia between 1968 and 2008. Soil test calibration relationships were developed for relative grain yield v. soil test using (i) all soils, (ii) Calcarosols, and (iii) all ‘soils other than Calcarosols’. Colwell-P and DGT-P calibration relationships were also derived for Calcarosols and Vertosols containing measureable CaCO3. The effect of soil P buffer capacity (measured as the single-point P buffer index corrected for Colwell-P, PBICol) on critical Colwell-P values was assessed by segregating field sites based on their PBICol class: very very low (15–35), very low (36–70), low (71–140), and moderate (141–280). All soil P tests, except Mehlich 3-P, showed moderate correlations with relative grain yield (R-value ≥0.43, P < 0.001) and DGT-P exhibited the largest R-value (0.55). Where soil test calibrations were derived for Calcarosols, Colwell-P had the smallest R-value (0.36), whereas DGT-P had an R-value of 0.66. For ‘soils other than Calcarosols’, R-values >0.45 decreased in the order: DGT-P (r = 0.55), Colwell-P (r = 0.49), CaCl2-P (r = 0.48), and BSES-P (r = 0.46). These results support the potential of DGT-P as a predictive soil P test, but indicate that Mehlich 3-P has little predictive use in these soils. Colwell-P had tighter critical confidence intervals than any other soil test for all calibrations except for soils classified as Calcarosols. Critical Colwell-P values, and confidence intervals, for the very very low, very low, and low P buffer capacity categories were within the range of other published data that indicate critical Colwell-P value increases as PBICol increases. Colwell-P is the current benchmark soil P test used in Australia and for the field trials in this study. With the exception of Calcarosols, no alternative soil P testing method was shown to provide a statistically superior prediction of response by wheat. Although having slightly lower R-values (i.e. <0.1 difference) for some calibration relationships, Colwell-P yielded tighter confidence intervals than did any of the other soil tests. The apparent advantage of DGT-P over Colwell-P on soils classified as Calcarosols was not due to the effects of calcium carbonate content of the analysed surface soils.

scholarly journals An early-morning flowering trait enhances heat-resilience at flowering

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsutomu Ishimaru ◽  
Hlaing Thandar ◽  
Ye Oo ◽  
Tin Lwin ◽  
Kazuhiro Sasaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Yield Components ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Early Morning ◽  
Daily Maximum ◽  
Recurrent Parent ◽  
Isogenic Line ◽  
Spikelet Sterility ◽  
Flower Opening ◽  
Tropical Regions

An early-morning flowering (EMF) trait is supposed to be effective in enhancing grain yield due to mitigation of heat-induced spikelet sterility at flowering in rice. This study evaluated (i) phenotypic differences between a near-isogenic line carrying a QTL for EMF trait, designated as IR64+qEMF3, and a recurrent parent, IR64, under wide variation in climates and (ii) whether an EMF trait can enhance grain yield under heat stress at flowering. IR64+qEMF3 had significant earlier flower opening time (FOT) in diverse environmental conditions including temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions. Under normal temperatures at flowering, IR64+qEMF3 had similar grain yield to IR64 with some significant changes in agronomic traits and yield components. Field trials in heat-vulnerable regions of central Myanmar for seven crop seasons showed that higher percentage of filled grains contributed to the significantly higher grain yield in IR64+qEMF3 among yield components when plants were exposed to daily maximum air temperatures around 36.5 oC or higher. Lower spikelet sterility in IR64+qEMF3 was attributed to the earlier FOT during cooler early morning hours. This is the first field study that clearly demonstrates the enhancement of heat-resilience due to EMF trait at flowering.

scholarly journals Agro-nutritional variations of quality protein maize (Zea mays L.) in Nigeria

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-116
Author(s):  
Omolaran Bello ◽  
Odunayo Olawuyi ◽  
Sunday Ige ◽  
Jimoh Mahamood ◽  
Micheal Afolabi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Inbred Lines ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Quality Protein Maize ◽  
Maize Breeding ◽  
Yield Attributes ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Nutritional Qualities

Quality protein maize (QPM) combining the enhanced levels of lysine and tryptophan with high grain yield and desirable agronomic traits could reduce food insecurity and malnutrition in West and Central Africa. Twenty-two varieties of QPM and two local checks were evaluated for agronomic characteristics and nutritional qualities in the southern Guinea savanna of Nigeria for two years (2009 and 2010). Though crude protein levels are good indicators of quality, amino acid composition analyses, especially lysine and tryptophan that would provide a final proof are in progress. The genotypes comprised five open pollinated varieties (OPVs), nine inbred lines, eight hybrids and two local varieties. Differences among the varieties were significant (P<0.01) for grain yield, days to tasselling as well as plant and ear heights, while year x variety interaction was only significant (P<0.05) for days to tasselling. Most of the QPM inbred lines (CML 437, CML 490 CML 178) and hybrids (Dada-ba, ART98-SW5-OB, ART98-SW4- OB and TZPB-OB) have superior performance for grain yield, other yield attributes and nutritional qualities compared with the OPVs and local checks. These inbreds could be potential sources of favorable alleles useful for future maize breeding, while the hybrids could be evaluated in different environments of Nigeria for comparative advantages in different environments and quality of the grains to be released to farmers.

scholarly journals High Soil Phosphorus Application Significantly Increased Grain Yield, Phosphorus Content but Not Zinc Content of Cowpea Grains

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 802
Author(s):  
Saba B. Mohammed ◽  
Daniel K. Dzidzienyo ◽  
Adama Yahaya ◽  
Muhammad L. Umar ◽  
Muhammad F. Ishiyaku ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Soil Phosphorus ◽  
P Deficiency ◽  
Soil P ◽  
High Soil ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Zn Content ◽  
P Application ◽  
Phosphorus Application ◽  
The Impact

To ameliorate the impact of soil phosphorus (P) deficiency on cowpea, the use of P-based fertilizers is recommended. Plant zinc (Zn) is an essential nutrient required by plants in a wide range of processes, such as growth hormone production and metabolism. However, a negative association between plant Zn content and high P application has been reported in some crops. There are few reports about soil P application and plant Zn content relationship on cowpea. Thus, this study investigated the response of cowpeas to three P rates in the screenhouse (0, 1.5, and 30 mg P/kg) and field (0, 10, and 60 kg P2O5/ha) and their effects on plant P and Zn content, biomass, and grain yield. In the screenhouse, shoot and root dry weights, and shoot P and Zn content were measured. Shoot dry weight, grain yield, grain P, and Zn contents were determined from field plants. Higher rates of P led to increased shoot biomass and grain yield of the field experiment but were not associated with a significant change in shoot or grain Zn content. There was not a significant correlation between grain yield and Zn content in high soil P (p < 0.05). The effect of higher P application on reduced plant Zn contents may be genotype-dependent and could be circumvented if genotypes with high Zn content under high soil P are identified.

scholarly journals Reliance on Biological Nitrogen Fixation Depletes Soil Phosphorus and Potassium Reserves

2020 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-291
Author(s):  
Marie Reimer ◽  
Tobias Edward Hartmann ◽  
Myles Oelofse ◽  
Jakob Magid ◽  
Else K. Bünemann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Soil Phosphorus ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Nutrient Budgets ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Extractable Soil

AbstractLimited nutrient availability is one of the major challenges in organic farming. Little is known about nutrient budgets of organic farms, the underlying factors or effects on soil fertility. We therefore assessed farm gate nutrient budgets for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and sulfur (S) of 20 organic farms in Germany and analyzed their soil nutri-ent status. In average, the budgets showed a surplus of N (19 kg ha−1), K (5 kg ha−1), S (12 kg ha−1), and Mg (7 kg ha−1), and a deficit of P (−3 kg ha−1). There was, however, high variability between farms (e.g. standard deviation up to ± 36 kg N ha−1), which was mainly explained by different degrees of reliance on biological N fixation (BNF) as N source. When farms obtained more than 60% of their N input through BNF, they had deficits of P (mean −8 kg P ha−1) and K (mean −18 kg K ha−1). Nutrient status of most soils was within the ad-vised corridor, but for P, K and Mg, 10–15% of fields were lower and 45–63% were higher than advised. Extractable soil nutrient contents did not correlate with the nutrient budgets, inputs or outputs. Only extractable soil P increased with increasing P inputs and outputs. Fur-thermore, a decrease in extractable soil P was detected with a prolonged history of organic farming, indicating a risk of soil P mining in organic farming systems. In conclusion, the study revealed nutrient imbalances in organic farming and pointed to P and K scarcity as a major challenge for organic farms with high reliance on BNF in the long term.

scholarly journals Enhancement of sorghum grain yield and nutrition: A role for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi regardless of soil phosphorus availability

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie J. Watts‐Williams ◽  
Alison R. Gill ◽  
Nathaniel Jewell ◽  
Christopher J. Brien ◽  
Bettina Berger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Soil Phosphorus ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Phosphorus Availability ◽  
Sorghum Grain

scholarly journals An early-morning flowering trait in rice helps retain grain yield under heat stress field conditions at flowering stage

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsutomu Ishimaru ◽  
Khin Thandar Hlaing ◽  
Ye Min Oo ◽  
Tin Mg Lwin ◽  
Kazuhiro Sasaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Yield Components ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Early Morning ◽  
Daily Maximum ◽  
Recurrent Parent ◽  
Isogenic Line ◽  
Spikelet Sterility ◽  
Flower Opening

AbstractEarly-morning flowering (EMF) trait is supposed to be effective in retaining grain yield due to mitigation of heat-induced spikelet sterility at flowering in rice. This study evaluated (i) phenotypic differences between a near-isogenic line carrying a QTL for EMF trait, designated as IR64+qEMF3, and a recurrent parent, IR64, under wide variation in climates and (ii) whether an EMF trait can retain grain yield under heat stress at flowering. IR64+qEMF3 had significant earlier flower opening time (FOT) in diverse environmental conditions including temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions. Under normal temperatures at flowering, IR64+qEMF3 had similar grain yield to IR64 with some significant changes in agronomic traits and yield components. Field trials in heat-vulnerable regions of central Myanmar for seven crop seasons showed that higher percentage of filled grains contributed to the significantly higher grain yield in IR64+qEMF3 among yield components when plants were exposed to daily maximum air temperatures around 36.5 °C or higher. Lower spikelet sterility in IR64+qEMF3 was attributed to the earlier FOT during cooler early morning hours. This is the first field study that clearly demonstrates the advantage of the EMF trait for retaining grain yield by stabilizing percentage of fertile grains under heat stress at flowering.

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