Record Details

Effective Utilization of Local Genetic Diversity of Pigeonpea, Sorghum and Finger Millet in Eastern and Southern Africa: Impacts and Prospects

OAR@ICRISAT

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Relation http://oar.icrisat.org/10298/
 
Title Effective Utilization of Local Genetic Diversity of Pigeonpea, Sorghum and Finger Millet in Eastern and Southern Africa: Impacts and Prospects
 
Creator Ganga Rao, N V P R
Manyasa, E O
Henry, O
Siambi, M
Upadhyaya, H D
 
Subject Finger Millet
Pigeonpea
Sorghum
Genetics and Genomics
Germplasm Collection
Southern Africa
East Africa
 
Description Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) is the centre of genetic diversity for pigeonpea, sorghum and Finger millet.
ICRISAT regional bank located in Nairobi-Kenya maintains about 6000 germplasm accessions that are of
greater use in ESA. ICRISAT-Nairobi is regularly collecting local diversity existing in the region and thus collected germplasm
characterized/evaluated to identify locally adapted germpalsm with highly desirable traits. Local diversity captured in ESA
has unique traits with respect to local agro-ecological adaptation, farmer and consumer preferred grain traits, tolerance
to drought and region specific diseases. ESA regional germplasm also contributed to global genetic diversity maintained
ICRISAT-Patancheru in several ways. During recent years 30 new varieties of pigeonpea (8), sorghum (10) and Finger
millet (12) were released in eight ESA countries and occupying huge area in respective countries. Pigeonpea is an example
crop with great success recorded during last 15 years when breeding program started using local germplasm. Pigeonpea
improvement in ESA started in 1992 by mostly relying on native germplasm and through this 33 high yielding varieties
that are belonging to short(8), medium(13) and long(12) maturity group were released. A strong region specific genetic
enhancement program is in operation with major breeding thrust on high grain yield, inter-cropping compatibility, photoperiod
insensitivity, grain quality, resistance and/or tolerance to Fusarium wilt and Helicoverpa pod borer and resilience to
climate change. Most of the cultivated germplasm is susceptible to insects but regional germplasm contributed develop
that are insect-cum-drought tolerant, high yielding and big seeded (28 g/100 seed mass). ESA region has huge untapped
potential with respect to genetic diversity and its use in genetic enhancement.
 
Date 2016-11
 
Type Conference or Workshop Item
PeerReviewed
 
Format application/pdf
 
Language en
 
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Identifier http://oar.icrisat.org/10298/1/pages%20114.pdf
Ganga Rao, N V P R and Manyasa, E O and Henry, O and Siambi, M and Upadhyaya, H D (2016) Effective Utilization of Local Genetic Diversity of Pigeonpea, Sorghum and Finger Millet in Eastern and Southern Africa: Impacts and Prospects. In: 1st International Agrobiodiversity Congress, November 06-09, 2016, New Delhi, India.