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Garg V, Barmukh R, Chitikineni A, Roorkiwal M, Ojiewo C, Bohra A, Thudi M, Singh VK, Kudapa H, Saxena RK, Fountain J, Mir RR, Bharadwaj C, Chen X, Xin L, Pandey MK. Celebrating Professor Rajeev K. Varshney's transformative research odyssey from genomics to the field on his induction as Fellow of the Royal Society. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2024; 22:1504-1515. [PMID: 38206288 PMCID: PMC11123405 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Professor Rajeev K. Varshney's transformative impact on crop genomics, genetics, and agriculture is the result of his passion, dedication, and unyielding commitment to harnessing the potential of genomics to address the most pressing challenges faced by the global agricultural community. Starting from a small town in India and reaching the global stage, Professor Varshney's academic and professional trajectory has inspired many scientists active in research today. His ground-breaking work, especially his effort to list orphan tropical crops to genomic resource-rich entities, has been transformative. Beyond his scientific achievements, Professor Varshney is recognized by his colleagues as an exemplary mentor, fostering the growth of future researchers, building institutional capacity, and strengthening scientific capability. His focus on translational genomics and strengthening seed system in developing countries for the improvement of agriculture has made a tangible impact on farmers' lives. His skills have been best utilized in roles at leading research centres where he has applied his expertise to deliver a new vision for crop improvement. These efforts have now been recognized by the Royal Society with the award of the Fellowship (FRS). As we mark this significant milestone in his career, we not only celebrate Professor Varshney's accomplishments but also his wider contributions that continue to transform the agricultural landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanika Garg
- Centre for Crop & Food Innovation, WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Food Futures InstituteMurdoch UniversityMurdochWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Rutwik Barmukh
- Centre for Crop & Food Innovation, WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Food Futures InstituteMurdoch UniversityMurdochWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Annapurna Chitikineni
- Centre for Crop & Food Innovation, WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Food Futures InstituteMurdoch UniversityMurdochWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Manish Roorkiwal
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and BiotechnologyUnited Arab Emirates UniversityAl AinUAE
| | - Chris Ojiewo
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)NairobiKenya
| | - Abhishek Bohra
- Centre for Crop & Food Innovation, WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Food Futures InstituteMurdoch UniversityMurdochWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | | | - Vikas K. Singh
- International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)‐South‐Asia HubInternational Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid TropicsHyderabadIndia
| | - Himabindu Kudapa
- Center of Excellence in Genomics & Systems BiologyInternational Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)HyderabadIndia
| | | | - Jake Fountain
- Department of Plant PathologyUniversity of GeorgiaGriffinGeorgiaUSA
| | - Reyazul Rouf Mir
- Division of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of AgricultureSKUAST‐KashmirWaduraIndia
| | | | - Xiaoping Chen
- Crops Research InstituteGuangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GDAAS)GuangzhouChina
| | | | - Manish K. Pandey
- Center of Excellence in Genomics & Systems BiologyInternational Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)HyderabadIndia
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Breen C, Ndlovu N, McKeown PC, Spillane C. Legume seed system performance in sub-Saharan Africa: barriers, opportunities, and scaling options. A review. AGRONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2024; 44:20. [PMID: 38550797 PMCID: PMC10965649 DOI: 10.1007/s13593-024-00956-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
As a fundamental pillar of food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), ensuring seed security is critical to empowering farmers in cultivating food and livestock feed, thereby fostering income generation from agricultural outputs. Among the crops cultivated by smallholders, legumes have the potential to deliver multifaceted benefits. Legumes are nutrient-dense and enhance soil health through their nitrogen-fixing qualities. However, in many instances, the development, release, and supply of improved legume varieties are insufficient to meet the needs of smallholder farmers in SSA. Here, we systematically reviewed the literature to (i) identify and categorize existing legume seed systems, (ii) map legume varieties available to smallholders, (iii) identify barriers hindering the adoption of various legume varieties, and (iv) identify potential strategies and opportunities for strengthening legume seed systems in SSA. Our results demonstrate the coexistence of formal and informal seed systems within legume seed supply chains in SSA, each employing unique seed distribution channels. Smallholders, however, are shown to predominantly depend on the informal seed system to source most legume seeds except for commercially available varieties. We also identified a diverse range of legume varieties available to smallholders in the region, with farmers having varying trait preferences based on crop type and gender. Notably, high yield and abiotic stress tolerance were the most preferred traits. The adoption of these varieties, however, is influenced by various factors, including lack of timely access to seeds in adequate quantities from the formal seed system, high seed costs, and limited information on new varieties. The reviewed literature highlighted that utilizing improved legume varieties had a positive effect on smallholders, leading to improved welfare, food security, dietary diversity, and income. We conclude that the effective scaling of legume systems in SSA is contingent upon the presence of supportive policy frameworks and well-established technical support structures. Graphical Abstract Packets of legume seeds within a legume germplasm and breeding program at the University of Zambia (Photo by Caitlin Breen, 2022). Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13593-024-00956-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin Breen
- Agriculture & Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 REW4 Ireland
| | - Noel Ndlovu
- Agriculture & Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 REW4 Ireland
| | - Peter C. McKeown
- Agriculture & Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 REW4 Ireland
| | - Charles Spillane
- Agriculture & Bioeconomy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 REW4 Ireland
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3
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Melesse MB, Miriti P, Muricho G, Ojiewo CO, Afari-Sefa V. Adoption and impact of improved groundnut varieties on household food security in Nigeria. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD RESEARCH 2023; 14:100817. [PMID: 38156042 PMCID: PMC10751534 DOI: 10.1016/j.jafr.2023.100817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Improved agricultural technologies are promoted as cost-effective and sustainable ways of improving rural households' food security and reducing poverty in developing countries. This study evaluates the relationship between improved groundnut varieties (IGVs) and household food security using detailed household and plot level data from a sample of over 1300 farm households in Northern Nigeria. Endogenous switching regression models are employed to control for potential endogeneity biases. Results show that about 30 % of groundnut plots are planted with improved varieties, and the adoption of IGVs significantly increases the likelihood of household per capita groundnut consumption by about 13 % and reduces the probability of households' vulnerability to food (access) insecurity by 22 %. Counterfactual analyses show that non-adopting households could have enjoyed comparable benefits had they adopted IGVs. These results suggest that development interventions aimed at improving the diffusion and impacts of IGVs in Nigeria need to target farmers' access to information about the technologies while developing groundnut seed systems to make quality seeds readily available to smallholder farmers at affordable prices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mequanint B. Melesse
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Kenya
| | - Philip Miriti
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Kenya
| | - Geoffrey Muricho
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Kenya
| | - Chris O. Ojiewo
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Kenya
| | - Victor Afari-Sefa
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, India
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4
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Gesesse CA, Nigir B, de Sousa K, Gianfranceschi L, Gallo GR, Poland J, Kidane YG, Abate Desta E, Fadda C, Pè ME, Dell’Acqua M. Genomics-driven breeding for local adaptation of durum wheat is enhanced by farmers' traditional knowledge. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2205774119. [PMID: 36972461 PMCID: PMC10083613 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2205774119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In the smallholder, low-input farming systems widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, farmers select and propagate crop varieties based on their traditional knowledge and experience. A data-driven integration of their knowledge into breeding pipelines may support the sustainable intensification of local farming. Here, we combine genomics with participatory research to tap into traditional knowledge in smallholder farming systems, using durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) in Ethiopia as a case study. We developed and genotyped a large multiparental population, called the Ethiopian NAM (EtNAM), that recombines an elite international breeding line with Ethiopian traditional varieties maintained by local farmers. A total of 1,200 EtNAM lines were evaluated for agronomic performance and farmers' appreciation in three locations in Ethiopia, finding that women and men farmers could skillfully identify the worth of wheat genotypes and their potential for local adaptation. We then trained a genomic selection (GS) model using farmer appreciation scores and found that its prediction accuracy over grain yield (GY) was higher than that of a benchmark GS model trained on GY. Finally, we used forward genetics approaches to identify marker-trait associations for agronomic traits and farmer appreciation scores. We produced genetic maps for individual EtNAM families and used them to support the characterization of genomic loci of breeding relevance with pleiotropic effects on phenology, yield, and farmer preference. Our data show that farmers' traditional knowledge can be integrated in genomics-driven breeding to support the selection of best allelic combinations for local adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cherinet Alem Gesesse
- Center of Plant Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa56127, Italy
- Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute, Bahir Dar6000, Ethiopia
| | - Bogale Nigir
- Center of Plant Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa56127, Italy
| | - Kauê de Sousa
- Digital Inclusion, Bioversity International, Parc Scientifique Agropolis II, Montpellier34397, France
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Hamar2322, Norway
| | | | | | - Jesse Poland
- Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yosef Gebrehawaryat Kidane
- Center of Plant Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa56127, Italy
- Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture, Bioversity International, Addis Ababa1000, Ethiopia; and
| | - Ermias Abate Desta
- Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute, Bahir Dar6000, Ethiopia
| | - Carlo Fadda
- Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture, Bioversity International, Nairobi00621, Kenya
| | - Mario Enrico Pè
- Center of Plant Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa56127, Italy
| | - Matteo Dell’Acqua
- Center of Plant Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa56127, Italy
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Barmukh R, Roorkiwal M, Dixit GP, Bajaj P, Kholova J, Smith MR, Chitikineni A, Bharadwaj C, Sreeman SM, Rathore A, Tripathi S, Yasin M, Vijayakumar AG, Rao Sagurthi S, Siddique KHM, Varshney RK. Characterization of 'QTL-hotspot' introgression lines reveals physiological mechanisms and candidate genes associated with drought adaptation in chickpea. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:7255-7272. [PMID: 36006832 PMCID: PMC9730794 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
'QTL-hotspot' is a genomic region on linkage group 04 (CaLG04) in chickpea (Cicer arietinum) that harbours major-effect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for multiple drought-adaptive traits, and it therefore represents a promising target for improving drought adaptation. To investigate the mechanisms underpinning the positive effects of 'QTL-hotspot' on seed yield under drought, we introgressed this region from the ICC 4958 genotype into five elite chickpea cultivars. The resulting introgression lines (ILs) and their parents were evaluated in multi-location field trials and semi-controlled conditions. The results showed that the 'QTL-hotspot' region improved seed yield under rainfed conditions by increasing seed weight, reducing the time to flowering, regulating traits related to canopy growth and early vigour, and enhancing transpiration efficiency. Whole-genome sequencing data analysis of the ILs and parents revealed four genes underlying the 'QTL-hotspot' region associated with drought adaptation. We validated diagnostic KASP markers closely linked to these genes using the ILs and their parents for future deployment in chickpea breeding programs. The CaTIFY4b-H2 haplotype of a potential candidate gene CaTIFY4b was identified as the superior haplotype for 100-seed weight. The candidate genes and superior haplotypes identified in this study have the potential to serve as direct targets for genetic manipulation and selection for chickpea improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rutwik Barmukh
- Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Systems Biology, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, India
- Department of Genetics, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India
| | - Manish Roorkiwal
- Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Systems Biology, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, India
- The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Girish P Dixit
- ICAR - Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR), Kanpur, India
| | - Prasad Bajaj
- Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Systems Biology, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, India
| | - Jana Kholova
- Crops Physiology & Modeling, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, India
- Department of Information Technologies, Faculty of Economics and Management, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Millicent R Smith
- Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Systems Biology, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, India
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Annapurna Chitikineni
- Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Systems Biology, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, India
| | - Chellapilla Bharadwaj
- The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Delhi, India
| | - Sheshshayee M Sreeman
- Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, India
| | - Abhishek Rathore
- Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Systems Biology, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, India
| | | | - Mohammad Yasin
- RAK College of Agriculture, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior, India
| | | | | | - Kadambot H M Siddique
- The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Rajeev K Varshney
- Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Systems Biology, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, India
- The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Centre for Crop and Food Innovation, State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
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Losa A, Vorster J, Cominelli E, Sparvoli F, Paolo D, Sala T, Ferrari M, Carbonaro M, Marconi S, Camilli E, Reboul E, Waswa B, Ekesa B, Aragão F, Kunert K. Drought and heat affect common bean minerals and human diet—What we know and where to go. Food Energy Secur 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/fes3.351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Losa
- Council for Research in Agriculture and Economics Research Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics (CREA‐GB) Montanaso Italy
| | - Juan Vorster
- Department Plant and Soil Sciences, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa
| | - Eleonora Cominelli
- National Research Council Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology (CNR‐IBBA) Milan Italy
| | - Francesca Sparvoli
- National Research Council Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology (CNR‐IBBA) Milan Italy
| | - Dario Paolo
- National Research Council Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology (CNR‐IBBA) Milan Italy
| | - Tea Sala
- Council for Research in Agriculture and Economics Research Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics (CREA‐GB) Montanaso Italy
| | - Marika Ferrari
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics Research Centre for Food and Nutrition (CREA‐AN) Rome Italy
| | - Marina Carbonaro
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics Research Centre for Food and Nutrition (CREA‐AN) Rome Italy
| | - Stefania Marconi
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics Research Centre for Food and Nutrition (CREA‐AN) Rome Italy
| | - Emanuela Camilli
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics Research Centre for Food and Nutrition (CREA‐AN) Rome Italy
| | | | - Boaz Waswa
- International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) CIAT Regional Office for Africa Nairobi Kenya
| | - Beatrice Ekesa
- International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) CIAT Regional Office for Africa Nairobi Kenya
| | | | - Karl Kunert
- Department Plant and Soil Sciences, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa
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Exploring Smallholder Farmers’ Preferences for Climate-Smart Seed Innovations: Empirical Evidence from Southern Ethiopia. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13052786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Rapid plant breeding is essential to overcome low productivity problems in the face of climatic challenges. Despite considerable efforts to improve breeding practices in Ethiopia, increasing varietal release does not necessarily imply that farmers have access to innovative varietal choices. Prior research did not adequately address whether varietal attributes are compatible with farmers’ preferences in harsh environmental conditions. With an agricultural policy mainly aiming to achieve productivity maximization, existing breeding programs prioritize varietal development based on yield superiority. Against this background, we estimated a multinomial logit (MNL) model based on choice-experiment data from 167 bean growers in southern Ethiopia to explore whether farmers’ attribute preferences significantly diverge from those of breeders’ priorities. Four important bean attributes identified through participatory research methods were used. The results demonstrate that farmers have a higher propensity toward drought-tolerant capability than any of the attributes considered. The model estimates further show the existence of significant preference heterogeneity across farmers. These findings provide important insight to design breeding profiles compatible with specific producer segments. We suggest demand-driven breeding innovations and dissemination strategies in order to accelerate the adoption of climate-smart and higher-yielding bean innovations that contribute to achieve the national and global sustainability goals in Ethiopia.
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Nchanji EB, Lutomia CK, Chirwa R, Templer N, Rubyogo JC, Onyango P. Immediate impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on bean value chain in selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa. AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS 2021; 188:103034. [PMID: 33658743 PMCID: PMC7874012 DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2020.103034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Africa's agriculture and food systems were already grappling with challenges such as climate change and weather variability, pests and disease, and regional conflicts. With rising new cases of COVID 19 propelling various African governments to enforce strict restrictions of varying degrees to curb the spread. Thus, the pandemic posed unprecedented shocks on agriculture and food supply chains in Sub Saharan Africa. In this study, we use survey data collected from nine countries in Central, Eastern, and Southern, Africa to understand the immediate impact of COVID-19 on production, distribution, and consumption of common beans, and possible food security implications. Descriptive analysis of data collected from bean farmers, aggregators, processors, bean regional coordinators, and mechanization dealers reveal that COVID-19 and government restrictions had impacted the availability and cost of farm inputs and labour, distribution, and consumption of beans in Eastern and Southern Africa. The immediate impacts were dire in Southern Africa with Central Africa slightly impacted. The production and distribution challenges negatively impacted on frequency and patterns of food consumption in households in Africa. Thus, the pandemic poses a greater risk to food security and poverty in the region. Governments could play a significant role in supporting the needs of smallholder farmers, traders and other actors through provision of subsidized agricultural inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Noel Templer
- International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Kenya
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9
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Galluzzi G, Seyoum A, Halewood M, López Noriega I, Welch EW. The Role of Genetic Resources in Breeding for Climate Change: The Case of Public Breeding Programmes in Eighteen Developing Countries. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 9:plants9091129. [PMID: 32878309 PMCID: PMC7569780 DOI: 10.3390/plants9091129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The role of plant breeding in adapting crops to climate changes that affect food production in developing countries is recognized as extremely important and urgent, alongside other agronomic, socio-economic and policy adaptation pathways. To enhance plant breeders' capacity to respond to climate challenges, it is acknowledged that they need to be able to access and use as much genetic diversity as they can get. Through an analysis of data from a global survey, we explore if and how public breeders in selected developing countries are responding to climate challenges through a renewed or innovative use of plant genetic resources, particularly in terms of types of material incorporated into their breeding work as well as sources of such germplasm. It also looks at the possible limitations breeders encounter in their efforts towards exploring diversity for adaptation. Breeders are clearly considering climate challenges. In general, their efforts are aimed at intensifying their breeding work on traits that they were already working on before climate change was so widely discussed. Similarly, the kinds of germplasm they use, and the sources from which they obtain it, do not appear to have changed significantly over the course of recent years. The main challenges breeders faced in accessing germplasm were linked to administrative/legal factors, particularly related to obtaining genetic resources across national borders. They also underscore technical challenges such as a lack of appropriate technologies to exploit germplasm sets such as crop wild relatives and landraces. Addressing these limitations will be crucial to fully enhance the role of public sector breeders in helping to adapt vulnerable agricultural systems to the challenges of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gea Galluzzi
- Bioversity International, Via dei Tre Denari 472/a, Maccarese (Fiumicino), 00057 Rome, Italy; (M.H.); (I.L.N.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-348-403-0812
| | - Aseffa Seyoum
- Center for Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy Studies, School of Public Affairs, Arizona State University, 411 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA; (A.S.); (E.W.W.)
| | - Michael Halewood
- Bioversity International, Via dei Tre Denari 472/a, Maccarese (Fiumicino), 00057 Rome, Italy; (M.H.); (I.L.N.)
| | - Isabel López Noriega
- Bioversity International, Via dei Tre Denari 472/a, Maccarese (Fiumicino), 00057 Rome, Italy; (M.H.); (I.L.N.)
| | - Eric W. Welch
- Center for Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy Studies, School of Public Affairs, Arizona State University, 411 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA; (A.S.); (E.W.W.)
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