Harnessing Crop Wild Relatives for Crop Improvement

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mukesh Choudhary ◽  
Vishal Singh ◽  
Vignesh Muthusamy ◽  
Shabir Hussain Wani
Keyword(s):  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Crop Wild Relatives ◽  
Wild Relatives

Spatial analyses of occurrence data of crop wild relatives (CWR) taxa as tools for selection of sites for conservation of priority CWR in Zambia

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dickson Ng'uni ◽  
Graybill Munkombwe ◽  
Godfrey Mwila ◽  
Hannes Gaisberger ◽  
Joana Magos Brehm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Crop Wild Relatives ◽  
Wild Relatives ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Relative Distribution ◽  
Spatial Analyses ◽  
Threat Status ◽  
Occurrence Data

AbstractCrop wild relatives (CWR) are valuable gene pools for crop improvement and offer unique potential and opportunity for enhancing food security and adaptation to climate change. However, current actions towards conservation of plant genetic resources in Zambia do not adequately cover CWR occurring in the country. The article describes the process leading to the development of a national strategic action plan (NSAP) for the conservation and sustainable use of priority CWR in Zambia. Based on 59 prioritized crops, a partial checklist of 459 CWR taxa was generated from the national flora checklist of 6305 taxa. The generated CWR taxa were prioritized based on the socio-economic value of the related crop, their utilization potential in crop improvement, relative distribution and threat status to produce 30 prioritized CWR taxa. Occurrence data were compiled for all CWR inventory taxa and used in spatial analyses to establish species distribution, species richness, gaps in in situ conservation and genebank collections, and to identify priority sites for in situ conservation and ex situ collecting. Consistent with the national developmental agenda, along with the contribution of national stakeholders, spatial analyses of occurrence data of priority CWR taxa are valuable input for the development of the NSAP for the conservation and sustainable use of the priority CWR.

A crop wild relative inventory for Southern Africa: a first step in linking conservation and use of valuable wild populations for enhancing food security

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Allen ◽  
H. Gaisberger ◽  
J. Magos Brehm ◽  
N. Maxted ◽  
I. Thormann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Crop Wild Relatives ◽  
Economic Security ◽  
Wild Relatives ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Conservation Action ◽  
Human Food

AbstractSuccessful conservation strategies require that taxa are prioritized because resources for planning and implementation are always limited. In this study, we created a partial checklist of crop wild relatives (CWR) that occur in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and identified the taxa of highest priority for regional conservation planning based on their importance for food and economic security. We found that the region contains over 1900 wild relatives of species cultivated for food, beverages, ornamental, forage/fodder, forestry, medicinal, environmental and other uses. Prioritization of these species was based on two criteria: (i) the value of the related crop for human food and economic security in the region and/or globally, and (ii) the potential or known value of the wild relatives of those crops for crop improvement. The region contains 745 CWR species related to 64 human food and beverage crops that are of high socioeconomic importance and 100 of these are of immediate priority for conservation action. The results of this study show that the SADC region contains a wealth of CWR diversity that is not only of value for food and economic security within the region but also globally. Furthermore, this study represents the first step in developing a CWR conservation and sustainable use strategy for the region, where its implementation would contribute to food security and well-being.

scholarly journals Comparative Analysis Delineates the Transcriptional Resistance Mechanisms for Pod Borer Resistance in the Pigeonpea Wild Relative Cajanus scarabaeoides (L.) Thouars

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 309
Author(s):  
Isaac Njaci ◽  
Abigail Ngugi-Dawit ◽  
Richard O. Oduor ◽  
Leah Kago ◽  
Brett Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Crop Wild Relatives ◽  
Wild Relatives ◽  
Agricultural Pests ◽  
Wild Genotype ◽  
Pod Borer ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Wild Pigeonpea

Insect pests pose a serious threat to global food production. Pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)) is one of the most destructive pests of leguminous crops. The use of host resistance has been an effective, environmentally friendly and sustainable approach for controlling several agricultural pests. The exploitation of natural variations in crop wild relatives could yield pest-resistant crop varieties. In this study, we used a high-throughput transcriptome profiling approach to investigate the defense mechanisms of susceptible cultivated and tolerant wild pigeonpea genotypes against H. armigera infestation. The wild genotype displayed elevated pest-induced gene expression, including the enhanced induction of phytohormone and calcium/calmodulin signaling, transcription factors, plant volatiles and secondary metabolite genes compared to the cultivated control. The biosynthetic and regulatory processes associated with flavonoids, terpenes and glucosinolate secondary metabolites showed higher accumulations in the wild genotype, suggesting the existence of distinct tolerance mechanisms. This study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying insect resistance in the wild pigeonpea genotype. This information highlights the indispensable role of crop wild relatives as a source of crucial genetic resources that could be important in devising strategies for crop improvement with enhanced pest resistance.

Crop wild relative diversity and conservation planning in two isolated oceanic islands of a biodiversity hotspot (Mauritius and Rodrigues)

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Bissessur ◽  
C. Baider ◽  
N. Boodia ◽  
M.G.H. Badaloo ◽  
J.A. Bégué ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Crop Wild Relatives ◽  
Oceanic Islands ◽  
Wild Relatives ◽  
Relative Distribution ◽  
Scoring Method

AbstractThe rising need for crop diversification to mitigate the impacts of climate change on food security urges the exploration of crop wild relatives (CWR) as potential genetic resources for crop improvement. This study aimed at assessing the diversity of CWR of the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues and proposing cost-effective conservation measures for their sustainable use. A comprehensive list of the native species was collated from The Mauritius Herbarium and published literature. Each species was assessed for the economic value of its related crop, utilization potential for crop improvement, relative distribution, occurrence status and Red List conservation status, using a standard scoring method for prioritization. The occurrence data of the priority species were collected, verified, geo-referenced and mapped. A total of 43 crop-related species were identified for both islands and 21 species were prioritized for active conservation. The CWR diversity hotspots in Mauritius included Mondrain, followed by Florin and Le Pouce Mountain. Although a wide diversity of CWR has been recorded on both islands, most do not relate to major economic crops in use, therefore only a few species may be gene donors to economic crops at the regional and global level. For example, coffee, a major global beverage crop, has three wild relatives on Mauritius, which could potentially be of interest for future predictive characterization.

Genomics of crop wild relatives: expanding the gene pool for crop improvement

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1070-1085 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Brozynska ◽  
Agnelo Furtado ◽  
Robert J. Henry
Keyword(s):  
Gene Pool ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Crop Wild Relatives ◽  
Wild Relatives

scholarly journals Cabo Verde’s Poaceae Flora: A Reservoir of Crop Wild Relatives Diversity for Crop Improvement

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanézia Rocha ◽  
Maria C. Duarte ◽  
Silvia Catarino ◽  
Ivani Duarte ◽  
Maria M. Romeiras
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Pennisetum Glaucum ◽  
Plant Genetic Resources ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Foxtail Millet ◽  
Crop Wild Relatives ◽  
Wild Relatives ◽  
Eragrostis Tef ◽  
Cabo Verde

Africa is home to important centers of origin and diversity of crop wild relatives (CWR), including many species adapted to adverse agroecological conditions, namely drought and poor soils. Plant genetic resources from Cabo Verde Islands have been poorly explored for their potential to supplement the genetic pool of cultivated species. In this paper we identify Cabo Verde’s CWR from the Poaceae family and provide a checklist of priority CWR taxa, highlighting those of particular conservation concern and the areas which should be the focus of the most intensive conservation efforts in these islands. Our results revealed that Cabo Verde archipelago is an important center of CWR diversity of West African crop millets, namely fonio (e.g., white fonio, Digitaria exilis, and black fonio, Digitaria iburua) and other African millets [e.g., pearl millet (Cenchrus americanus = Pennisetum glaucum), teff millet (Eragrostis tef), finger millet (Eleusine coracana), barnyard millet (Echinochloa colona), proso millet (Panicum miliaceum), and foxtail millet (Setaria italica)], which represent a diverse group of cereal crops, and important components in agriculture and food security of this country. Also, hotspot areas of diversity for in situ conservation were identified in Cabo Verde, as well as several populations occurring under extreme habitats conditions that are well adapted to drylands and poor soils. The evaluation of their potential for new ecologically important adaptive characteristics associated with tolerance to abiotic stresses is discussed. The survey of international Germplasm Banks revealed that very few accessions from Cabo Verde are conserved, contributing to the loss of genetic diversity of plant genetic resources in this archipelago. Particularly, the diversity of millets and the associated indigenous knowledge are critical for the food security and cultural identity of many poor farmers in Cabo Verde.

scholarly journals Conservation and Utilization of Wild Relatives of Important Spices and Plantation Crops in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India- An Overview

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 320-327
Author(s):  
Ajit Arun Waman ◽  
Pooja Bohra ◽  
Santosh Mane
Keyword(s):  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Crop Wild Relatives ◽  
Wild Relatives ◽  
Present Review ◽  
Andaman And Nicobar Islands ◽  
Nicobar Islands ◽  
Island Ecosystem ◽  
Plantation Crops ◽  
Bay Islands ◽  
Human Kind

Andaman and Nicobar islands are one of the regions with unique diversity of flora including about 300 endemic species. These islands are also home to six native tribes, some of which are still living their life in primitive ways. The native phyto-diversity is routinely employed by these aboriginals and settler communities for a variety of purposes including food, medicines, timber etc. In the present review, diversity of crop wild relatives of commercial spices and plantation crops present in the islands along with their utilization by the tribes and other communities is discussed. Further, being botanically related to commercial crops, such species could greatly contribute in crop improvement programmes to meet the challenges arising out of climate change. Considering these, systematic studies are envisaged to document, regenerate, conserve and characterize such economically and ecologically useful species so that they could be utilized for the betterment of human kind. Present review concerned highlighting the importance of these issues in the context of fragile island ecosystem of the Bay Islands.

scholarly journals Development of a prioritised checklist of crop wild relatives for conservation in Malawi

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-311
Author(s):  
N.K. Mponya ◽  
Z.L.K. Magombo ◽  
L. Pungulani ◽  
J.M. Brehm ◽  
N. Maxted
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Relatedness ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Crop Wild Relatives ◽  
Wild Relatives ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
National Inventory ◽  
Threat Status ◽  
Annotated Checklist ◽  
The Impact

The national increase in human population in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) demands for more food; while increase in the impact of climate change, demands for resilient agricultural production systems, and both call for improved agricultural productivity. Plant breeders will need adaptive traits to improve crop productivity and resilience. Crop wild relatives (CWR) have the potential to offer the much needed diversity for crop improvement, but their diversity is inadequately conserved. Lack of knowledge about their occurrence in Malawi, limits their systematic conservation and utilisation. Developing a CWR national inventory helps to define conservation priorities and actions. The objective of this study was to match checklists of crop genera and national flora, using their taxonomic and genetic relatedness information. This resulted into the first comprehensive annotated checklist of 446 CWR taxa in Malawi, which was prioritised by a set of criteria previously agreed with national stakeholders based on socio-economic importance of the related crop, potential use of the wild relative in crop improvement and threat status. The inventory comprises of 277 CWR taxa, identified as priority for conservation in Malawi; of which 78% were native. These belong to 56 genera and are related to 54 food, fodder, spices and beverage crops; and include taxa related to crops of regional and global importance. Eighty-seven taxa of highest priority for conservation were further identified, 12.6% of which have confirmed uses in crop improvement on pests and disease resistance, drought tolerance and yielding ability. The inventory will facilitate effective conservation and availability of these taxa for their use in crop improvement. Key words: Annotated checklist, national inventory, systematic conservation

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