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Menkir A, Dieng I, Gedil M, Mengesha W, Oyekunle M, Riberio PF, Adu GB, Yacoubou AM, Coulibaly M, Bankole FA, Derera J, Bossey B, Unachukwu N, Ilesanmi Y, Meseka S. Approaches and progress in breeding drought-tolerant maize hybrids for tropical lowlands in west and central Africa. THE PLANT GENOME 2024; 17:e20437. [PMID: 38379199 DOI: 10.1002/tpg2.20437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Drought represents a significant production challenge to maize farmers in West and Central Africa, causing substantial economic losses. Breeders at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture have therefore been developing drought-tolerant maize varieties to attain high grain yields in rainfed maize production zones. The present review provides a historical overview of the approaches used and progress made in developing drought-tolerant hybrids over the years. Breeders made a shift from a wide area testing approach, to the use of managed screening sites, to precisely control the intensity, and timing of drought stress for developing drought-tolerant maize varieties. These sites coupled with the use of molecular markers allowed choosing suitable donors with drought-adaptive alleles for integration into existing elite maize lines to generate new drought-tolerant inbred lines. These elite maize inbred lines have then been used to develop hybrids with enhanced tolerance to drought. Genetic gains estimates were made using performance data of drought-tolerant maize hybrids evaluated in regional trials for 11 years under managed drought stress, well-watered conditions, and across diverse rainfed environments. The results found significant linear annual yield gains of 32.72 kg ha-1 under managed drought stress, 38.29 kg ha-1 under well-watered conditions, and 66.57 kg ha-1 across multiple rainfed field environments. Promising hybrids that deliver high grain yields were also identified for areas affected by drought and variable rainfed growing conditions. The significant genetic correlations found among the three growing conditions highlight the potential to exploit the available genetic resources and modern tools to further enhance tolerance to drought in hybrids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abebe Menkir
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Ibnou Dieng
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Melaku Gedil
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Wende Mengesha
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Muhyideen Oyekunle
- Institute for Agricultural Research/Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | | | | | | | | | | | - John Derera
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Bunmi Bossey
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Nnanna Unachukwu
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Yinka Ilesanmi
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Silvestro Meseka
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria
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Khanna A, Anumalla M, Ramos J, Cruz MTS, Catolos M, Sajise AG, Gregorio G, Dixit S, Ali J, Islam MR, Singh VK, Rahman MA, Khatun H, Pisano DJ, Bhosale S, Hussain W. Genetic gains in IRRI's rice salinity breeding and elite panel development as a future breeding resource. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2024; 137:37. [PMID: 38294550 PMCID: PMC10830834 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-024-04545-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Estimating genetic gains and formulating a future salinity elite breeding panel for rice pave the way for developing better high-yielding salinity tolerant lines with enhanced genetic gains. Genetic gain is a crucial parameter to check the breeding program's success and help optimize future breeding strategies for enhanced genetic gains. To estimate the genetic gains in IRRI's salinity breeding program and identify the best genotypes based on high breeding values for grain yield (kg/ha), we analyzed the historical data from the trials conducted in the IRRI, Philippines and Bangladesh. A two-stage mixed-model approach accounting for experimental design factors and a relationship matrix was fitted to obtain the breeding values for grain yield and estimate genetic trends. A positive genetic trend of 0.1% per annum with a yield advantage of 1.52 kg/ha was observed in IRRI, Philippines. In Bangladesh, we observed a genetic gain of 0.31% per annum with a yield advantage of 14.02 kg/ha. In the released varieties, we observed a genetic gain of 0.12% per annum with a 2.2 kg/ha/year yield advantage in the IRRI, Philippines. For the Bangladesh dataset, a genetic gain of 0.14% per annum with a yield advantage of 5.9 kg/ha/year was observed in the released varieties. Based on breeding values for grain yield, a core set of the top 145 genotypes with higher breeding values of > 2400 kg/ha in the IRRI, Philippines, and > 3500 kg/ha in Bangladesh with a reliability of > 0.4 were selected to develop the elite breeding panel. Conclusively, a recurrent selection breeding strategy integrated with novel technologies like genomic selection and speed breeding is highly required to achieve higher genetic gains in IRRI's salinity breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apurva Khanna
- Rice Breeding Innovation Platform, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), 4031, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
| | - Mahender Anumalla
- Rice Breeding Innovation Platform, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), 4031, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
| | - Joie Ramos
- Rice Breeding Innovation Platform, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), 4031, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
| | - Ma Teresa Sta Cruz
- Rice Breeding Innovation Platform, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), 4031, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
| | - Margaret Catolos
- Rice Breeding Innovation Platform, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), 4031, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
| | - Andres Godwin Sajise
- Rice Breeding Innovation Platform, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), 4031, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
| | - Glenn Gregorio
- Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and University of Philippines, 4031, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
| | - Shalabh Dixit
- Rice Breeding Innovation Platform, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), 4031, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
| | - Jauhar Ali
- Rice Breeding Innovation Platform, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), 4031, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
| | - Md Rafiqul Islam
- IRRI South Asia Regional Center (IRRI-SA Hub), Hyderabad, Telangana, 502324, India
| | - Vikas Kumar Singh
- IRRI South Asia Regional Center (IRRI-SA Hub), Hyderabad, Telangana, 502324, India
| | - Md Akhlasur Rahman
- Plant Breeding Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur, 1701, Bangladesh
| | - Hasina Khatun
- Plant Breeding Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur, 1701, Bangladesh
| | - Daniel Joseph Pisano
- Rice Breeding Innovation Platform, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), 4031, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
| | - Sankalp Bhosale
- Rice Breeding Innovation Platform, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), 4031, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
| | - Waseem Hussain
- Rice Breeding Innovation Platform, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), 4031, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines.
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Dossa EN, Shimelis H, Mrema E, Shayanowako ATI, Laing M. Genetic resources and breeding of maize for Striga resistance: a review. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1163785. [PMID: 37235028 PMCID: PMC10206272 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1163785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The potential yield of maize (Zea mays L.) and other major crops is curtailed by several biotic, abiotic, and socio-economic constraints. Parasitic weeds, Striga spp., are major constraints to cereal and legume crop production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Yield losses reaching 100% are reported in maize under severe Striga infestation. Breeding for Striga resistance has been shown to be the most economical, feasible, and sustainable approach for resource-poor farmers and for being environmentally friendly. Knowledge of the genetic and genomic resources and components of Striga resistance is vital to guide genetic analysis and precision breeding of maize varieties with desirable product profiles under Striga infestation. This review aims to present the genetic and genomic resources, research progress, and opportunities in the genetic analysis of Striga resistance and yield components in maize for breeding. The paper outlines the vital genetic resources of maize for Striga resistance, including landraces, wild relatives, mutants, and synthetic varieties, followed by breeding technologies and genomic resources. Integrating conventional breeding, mutation breeding, and genomic-assisted breeding [i.e., marker-assisted selection, quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis, next-generation sequencing, and genome editing] will enhance genetic gains in Striga resistance breeding programs. This review may guide new variety designs for Striga-resistance and desirable product profiles in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emeline Nanou Dossa
- School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Hussein Shimelis
- School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Emmanuel Mrema
- School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
- Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute, Tumbi Center, Tabora, Tanzania
| | | | - Mark Laing
- School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
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Jeon D, Kang Y, Lee S, Choi S, Sung Y, Lee TH, Kim C. Digitalizing breeding in plants: A new trend of next-generation breeding based on genomic prediction. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1092584. [PMID: 36743488 PMCID: PMC9892199 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1092584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
As the world's population grows and food needs diversification, the demand for cereals and horticultural crops with beneficial traits increases. In order to meet a variety of demands, suitable cultivars and innovative breeding methods need to be developed. Breeding methods have changed over time following the advance of genetics. With the advent of new sequencing technology in the early 21st century, predictive breeding, such as genomic selection (GS), emerged when large-scale genomic information became available. GS shows good predictive ability for the selection of individuals with traits of interest even for quantitative traits by using various types of the whole genome-scanning markers, breaking away from the limitations of marker-assisted selection (MAS). In the current review, we briefly describe the history of breeding techniques, each breeding method, various statistical models applied to GS and methods to increase the GS efficiency. Consequently, we intend to propose and define the term digital breeding through this review article. Digital breeding is to develop a predictive breeding methods such as GS at a higher level, aiming to minimize human intervention by automatically proceeding breeding design, propagating breeding populations, and to make selections in consideration of various environments, climates, and topography during the breeding process. We also classified the phases of digital breeding based on the technologies and methods applied to each phase. This review paper will provide an understanding and a direction for the final evolution of plant breeding in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghyun Jeon
- Plant Computational Genomics Laboratory, Department of Science in Smart Agriculture Systems, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yuna Kang
- Plant Computational Genomics Laboratory, Department of Crop Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Solji Lee
- Plant Computational Genomics Laboratory, Department of Crop Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sehyun Choi
- Plant Computational Genomics Laboratory, Department of Crop Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeonjun Sung
- Plant Computational Genomics Laboratory, Department of Science in Smart Agriculture Systems, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Ho Lee
- Genomics Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Changsoo Kim
- Plant Computational Genomics Laboratory, Department of Science in Smart Agriculture Systems, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Plant Computational Genomics Laboratory, Department of Crop Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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Raj SRG, Nadarajah K. QTL and Candidate Genes: Techniques and Advancement in Abiotic Stress Resistance Breeding of Major Cereals. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010006. [PMID: 36613450 PMCID: PMC9820233 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
At least 75% of the world's grain production comes from the three most important cereal crops: rice (Oryza sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and maize (Zea mays). However, abiotic stressors such as heavy metal toxicity, salinity, low temperatures, and drought are all significant hazards to the growth and development of these grains. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) discovery and mapping have enhanced agricultural production and output by enabling plant breeders to better comprehend abiotic stress tolerance processes in cereals. Molecular markers and stable QTL are important for molecular breeding and candidate gene discovery, which may be utilized in transgenic or molecular introgression. Researchers can now study synteny between rice, maize, and wheat to gain a better understanding of the relationships between the QTL or genes that are important for a particular stress adaptation and phenotypic improvement in these cereals from analyzing reports on QTL and candidate genes. An overview of constitutive QTL, adaptive QTL, and significant stable multi-environment and multi-trait QTL is provided in this article as a solid framework for use and knowledge in genetic enhancement. Several QTL, such as DRO1 and Saltol, and other significant success cases are discussed in this review. We have highlighted techniques and advancements for abiotic stress tolerance breeding programs in cereals, the challenges encountered in introgressing beneficial QTL using traditional breeding techniques such as mutation breeding and marker-assisted selection (MAS), and the in roads made by new breeding methods such as genome-wide association studies (GWASs), the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas9 system, and meta-QTL (MQTL) analysis. A combination of these conventional and modern breeding approaches can be used to apply the QTL and candidate gene information in genetic improvement of cereals against abiotic stresses.
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Sekine D, Tsuda M, Yabe S, Shimizu T, Machita K, Saruta M, Yamada T, Ishimoto M, Iwata H, Kaga A. Improving Quantitative Traits in Self-Pollinated Crops Using Simulation-Based Selection With Minimal Crossing. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:729645. [PMID: 34539720 PMCID: PMC8443513 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.729645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Genomic selection and marker-assisted recurrent selection have been applied to improve quantitative traits in many cross-pollinated crops. However, such selection is not feasible in self-pollinated crops owing to laborious crossing procedures. In this study, we developed a simulation-based selection strategy that makes use of a trait prediction model based on genomic information to predict the phenotype of the progeny for all possible crossing combinations. These predictions are then used to select the best cross combinations for the selection of the given trait. In our simulated experiment, using a biparental initial population with a heritability set to 0.3, 0.6, or 1.0 and the number of quantitative trait loci set to 30 or 100, the genetic gain of the proposed strategy was higher or equal to that of conventional recurrent selection method in the early selection cycles, although the number of cross combinations of the proposed strategy was considerably reduced in each cycle. Moreover, this strategy was demonstrated to increase or decrease seed protein content in soybean recombinant inbred lines using SNP markers. Information on 29 genomic regions associated with seed protein content was used to construct the prediction model and conduct simulation. After two selection cycles, the selected progeny had significantly higher or lower seed protein contents than those from the initial population. These results suggest that our strategy is effective in obtaining superior progeny over a short period with minimal crossing and has the potential to efficiently improve the target quantitative traits in self-pollinated crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Sekine
- Institute of Vegetable and Floriculture Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsu, Japan
- Institute of Crop Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Mai Tsuda
- Institute of Crop Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
- Tsukuba Plant Innovation Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Shiori Yabe
- Institute of Crop Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Takehiko Shimizu
- Institute of Crop Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Kayo Machita
- Institute of Crop Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Masayasu Saruta
- Institute of Crop Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Yamada
- Institute of Crop Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Masao Ishimoto
- Institute of Crop Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Hiroyoshi Iwata
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Japan
| | - Akito Kaga
- Institute of Crop Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
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Marker based enrichment of provitamin A content in two tropical maize synthetics. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14998. [PMID: 34294860 PMCID: PMC8298388 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94586-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Most of the maize (Zea mays L.) varieties in developing countries have low content of micronutrients including vitamin A. As a result, people who are largely dependent on cereal-based diets suffer from health challenges due to micronutrient deficiencies. Marker assisted recurrent selection (MARS), which increases the frequency of favorable alleles with advances in selection cycle, could be used to enhance the provitamin A (PVA) content of maize. This study was carried out to determine changes in levels of PVA carotenoids and genetic diversity in two maize synthetics that were subjected to two cycles of MARS. The two populations, known as HGA and HGB, and their advanced selection cycles (C1 and C2) were evaluated at Ibadan in Nigeria. Selection increased the concentrations of β-carotene, PVA and total carotenoids across cycles in HGA, while in HGB only α-carotene increased with advances in selection cycle. β-cryptoxanthine increased at C1 but decreased at C2 in HGB. The levels of β-carotene, PVA, and total carotenoids increased by 40%, 30% and 36% respectively, in HGA after two cycles of selection. α-carotene and β-cryptoxanthine content improved by 20% and 5%, respectively after two cycles of selection in HGB. MARS caused changes in genetic diversity over selection cycles. Number of effective alleles and observed heterozygosity decreased with selection cycles, while expected heterozygosity increased at C1 and decreased at C2 in HGA. In HGB, number of effective alleles, observed and expected heterozygosity increased at C1 and decreased at C2. In both populations, fixation index increased after two cycle of selections. The greatest part of the genetic variability resides within the population accounting for 86% of the total genetic variance. In general, MARS effectively improved PVA carotenoid content. However, genetic diversity in the two synthetics declined after two cycles of selection.
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Snowdon RJ, Wittkop B, Chen TW, Stahl A. Crop adaptation to climate change as a consequence of long-term breeding. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2021; 134:1613-1623. [PMID: 33221941 PMCID: PMC8205907 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-020-03729-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Major global crops in high-yielding, temperate cropping regions are facing increasing threats from the impact of climate change, particularly from drought and heat at critical developmental timepoints during the crop lifecycle. Research to address this concern is frequently focused on attempts to identify exotic genetic diversity showing pronounced stress tolerance or avoidance, to elucidate and introgress the responsible genetic factors or to discover underlying genes as a basis for targeted genetic modification. Although such approaches are occasionally successful in imparting a positive effect on performance in specific stress environments, for example through modulation of root depth, major-gene modifications of plant architecture or function tend to be highly context-dependent. In contrast, long-term genetic gain through conventional breeding has incrementally increased yields of modern crops through accumulation of beneficial, small-effect variants which also confer yield stability via stress adaptation. Here we reflect on retrospective breeding progress in major crops and the impact of long-term, conventional breeding on climate adaptation and yield stability under abiotic stress constraints. Looking forward, we outline how new approaches might complement conventional breeding to maintain and accelerate breeding progress, despite the challenges of climate change, as a prerequisite to sustainable future crop productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rod J Snowdon
- Department of Plant Breeding, IFZ Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Benjamin Wittkop
- Department of Plant Breeding, IFZ Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Tsu-Wei Chen
- Albrecht Daniel Thaer Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Humboldt University Berlin, Lentzeallee 75, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Stahl
- Department of Plant Breeding, IFZ Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392, Giessen, Germany
- Institute for Resistance Research and Stress Tolerance, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI), Erwin-Baur-Strasse 27, 06484, Quedlinburg, Germany
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Obeng‐Bio E, Badu‐Apraku B, Ifie BE, Danquah A, Blay ET, Dadzie MA. Assessing inbred-hybrid relationships for developing drought-tolerant provitamin A-quality protein maize hybrids. AGRONOMY JOURNAL 2020; 112:3549-3566. [PMID: 33303994 PMCID: PMC7693075 DOI: 10.1002/agj2.20344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Drought-tolerant early-maturing maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines with high levels of provitamin A (PVA) and quality protein (QPM) are urgently needed for development of superior hybrids to mitigate malnutrition and to intensify maize production and productivity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study was designed to identify early-maturing inbred lines with combined tolerance to drought, elevated tryptophan, and PVA contents; to examine inbred-hybrid relationships for tryptophan and PVA accumulation; and to select hybrids with outstanding grain yield (GY) performance. A total of 64 inbred lines and six checks, plus 96 hybrids and four checks, were evaluated under drought and well-watered environments in Nigeria for 2 yr. Eighteen parental lines and 54 derived hybrids were assayed for tryptophan and PVA contents. Ten drought-tolerant inbred lines with high tryptophan and elevated PVA levels were identified in the top 10 hybrid combinations across managed drought and well-watered conditions. The inbred-hybrid relationship was significant for GY under each and across the two contrasting environments. Significant average heterosis was found for tryptophan and PVA under well-watered conditions. This indicated that the selected inbred lines could be used for developing high-yielding PVA-QPM hybrids tolerant to drought stress in SSA. The 10 top-performing PVA-QPM hybrids identified are being extensively evaluated in different locations and subsequently in on-farm trials for commercialization throughout SSA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Baffour Badu‐Apraku
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)PMB 5320, Oyo RdIbadanNigeria
| | - Beatrice Elohor Ifie
- West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI)Univ. of GhanaPBM 30 LegonAccraGhana
| | - Agyemang Danquah
- West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI)Univ. of GhanaPBM 30 LegonAccraGhana
| | - Essie T. Blay
- West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI)Univ. of GhanaPBM 30 LegonAccraGhana
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Salgotra RK, Stewart CN. Functional Markers for Precision Plant Breeding. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4792. [PMID: 32640763 PMCID: PMC7370099 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21134792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in molecular biology including genomics, high-throughput sequencing, and genome editing enable increasingly faster and more precise cultivar development. Identifying genes and functional markers (FMs) that are highly associated with plant phenotypic variation is a grand challenge. Functional genomics approaches such as transcriptomics, targeting induced local lesions in genomes (TILLING), homologous recombinant (HR), association mapping, and allele mining are all strategies to identify FMs for breeding goals, such as agronomic traits and biotic and abiotic stress resistance. The advantage of FMs over other markers used in plant breeding is the close genomic association of an FM with a phenotype. Thereby, FMs may facilitate the direct selection of genes associated with phenotypic traits, which serves to increase selection efficiencies to develop varieties. Herein, we review the latest methods in FM development and how FMs are being used in precision breeding for agronomic and quality traits as well as in breeding for biotic and abiotic stress resistance using marker assisted selection (MAS) methods. In summary, this article describes the use of FMs in breeding for development of elite crop cultivars to enhance global food security goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romesh K. Salgotra
- School of Biotechnology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu, Chatha, Jammu 190008, India
| | - C. Neal Stewart
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
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Gedil M, Menkir A. An Integrated Molecular and Conventional Breeding Scheme for Enhancing Genetic Gain in Maize in Africa. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1430. [PMID: 31781144 PMCID: PMC6851238 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Maize production in West and Central Africa (WCA) is constrained by a wide range of interacting stresses that keep productivity below potential yields. Among the many problems afflicting maize production in WCA, drought, foliar diseases, and parasitic weeds are the most critical. Several decades of efforts devoted to the genetic improvement of maize have resulted in remarkable genetic gain, leading to increased yields of maize on farmers' fields. The revolution unfolding in the areas of genomics, bioinformatics, and phenomics is generating innovative tools, resources, and technologies for transforming crop breeding programs. It is envisaged that such tools will be integrated within maize breeding programs, thereby advancing these programs and addressing current and future challenges. Accordingly, the maize improvement program within International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is undergoing a process of modernization through the introduction of innovative tools and new schemes that are expected to enhance genetic gains and impact on smallholder farmers in the region. Genomic tools enable genetic dissections of complex traits and promote an understanding of the physiological basis of key agronomic and nutritional quality traits. Marker-aided selection and genome-wide selection schemes are being implemented to accelerate genetic gain relating to yield, resilience, and nutritional quality. Therefore, strategies that effectively combine genotypic information with data from field phenotyping and laboratory-based analysis are currently being optimized. Molecular breeding, guided by methodically defined product profiles tailored to different agroecological zones and conditions of climate change, supported by state-of-the-art decision-making tools, is pivotal for the advancement of modern, genomics-aided maize improvement programs. Accelerated genetic gain, in turn, catalyzes a faster variety replacement rate. It is critical to forge and strengthen partnerships for enhancing the impacts of breeding products on farmers' livelihood. IITA has well-established channels for delivering its research products/technologies to partner organizations for further testing, multiplication, and dissemination across various countries within the subregion. Capacity building of national agricultural research system (NARS) will facilitate the smooth transfer of technologies and best practices from IITA and its partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melaku Gedil
- Bioscience Center and Maize Improvement Program, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Abebe Menkir
- Maize Improvement Program, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria
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12
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Badu-Apraku B, Talabi AO, Fakorede MAB, Fasanmade Y, Gedil M, Magorokosho C, Asiedu R. Yield gains and associated changes in an early yellow bi-parental maize population following genomic selection for Striga resistance and drought tolerance. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2019; 19:129. [PMID: 30953477 PMCID: PMC6451270 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-019-1740-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maize yield potential is rarely maximized in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) due to the devastating effects of drought stress and Striga hermonthica parasitism. This study was conducted to determine the gains in grain yield and associated changes in an early-maturing yellow bi-parental maize population (TZEI 17 x TZEI 11) F3 following genomic selection (GS) for improved grain yield, Striga resistance and drought tolerance. Fifty S1 lines were extracted from each of cycles C0, C1, C2 and C3 of the population and crossed to a tester TZEI 23 to generate 200 testcrosses. The testcrosses were evaluated under drought, artificial Striga-infested and optimal (free from Striga infestation and without limitation of water and nitrogen) environments in Nigeria, 2014-2017. RESULTS Gains in grain yield of 498 kg ha- 1 cycle- 1 (16.9% cycle- 1) and 522 kg ha- 1 cycle- 1 (12.6% cycle- 1) were obtained under Striga-infested and optimal environments, respectively. The yield gain under Striga-infested environments was associated with increased plant and ear heights as well as improvement in root lodging resistance, husk cover, ear aspect and Striga tolerance. Under optimal environments, yield gain was accompanied by increase in plant and ear heights along with improvement of husk cover and ear rot resistance. In contrast, genomic selection did not improve grain yield under drought but resulted in delayed flowering, poor pollen-silk synchrony during flowering and increased ear height. Genetic variances and heritabilities for most measured traits were not significant for the selection cycles under the research environments. Ear aspect was a major contributor to grain yield under all research environments and could serve as an indirect selection criterion for simultaneous improvement of grain yield under drought, Striga and optimal environments. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that genomic selection was effective for yield improvement in the bi-parental maize population under Striga-infested environments and resulted in concomitant yield gains under optimal environments. However, due to low genetic variability of most traits in the population, progress from further genomic selection could only be guaranteed if new sources of genes for Striga resistance and drought tolerance are introgressed into the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Badu-Apraku
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, P.M.B., Ibadan, 5320, Nigeria.
| | - A O Talabi
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, P.M.B., Ibadan, 5320, Nigeria
| | | | - Y Fasanmade
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, P.M.B., Ibadan, 5320, Nigeria
| | - M Gedil
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, P.M.B., Ibadan, 5320, Nigeria
| | | | - R Asiedu
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, P.M.B., Ibadan, 5320, Nigeria
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Nepolean T, Kaul J, Mukri G, Mittal S. Genomics-Enabled Next-Generation Breeding Approaches for Developing System-Specific Drought Tolerant Hybrids in Maize. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:361. [PMID: 29696027 PMCID: PMC5905169 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Breeding science has immensely contributed to the global food security. Several varieties and hybrids in different food crops including maize have been released through conventional breeding. The ever growing population, decreasing agricultural land, lowering water table, changing climate, and other variables pose tremendous challenge to the researchers to improve the production and productivity of food crops. Drought is one of the major problems to sustain and improve the productivity of food crops including maize in tropical and subtropical production systems. With advent of novel genomics and breeding tools, the way of doing breeding has been tremendously changed in the last two decades. Drought tolerance is a combination of several component traits with a quantitative mode of inheritance. Rapid DNA and RNA sequencing tools and high-throughput SNP genotyping techniques, trait mapping, functional characterization, genomic selection, rapid generation advancement, and other tools are now available to understand the genetics of drought tolerance and to accelerate the breeding cycle. Informatics play complementary role by managing the big-data generated from the large-scale genomics and breeding experiments. Genome editing is the latest technique to alter specific genes to improve the trait expression. Integration of novel genomics, next-generation breeding, and informatics tools will accelerate the stress breeding process and increase the genetic gain under different production systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thirunavukkarsau Nepolean
- Maize Research Lab, Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
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Samejima H, Sugimoto Y. Recent research progress in combatting root parasitic weeds. BIOTECHNOL BIOTEC EQ 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/13102818.2017.1420427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroaki Samejima
- Division of Applied Chemistry in Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Sugimoto
- Division of Applied Chemistry in Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
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