Breeding Strategies for Adaptation of Pearl Millet and Sorghum to Climate Variability and Change in West Africa

Abstract

Semi‐arid and subhumid West Africa is characterized by high inter‐annual rainfall variability, with variable onset of the rainy season, somewhat more predictable endings, and drought or excess water occurrence at any time during the growing season. Climate change is predicted to increase this variability. This article summarizes options for plant breeders to enhance the adaptation of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) to climate variability in West Africa. Developing variety types with high degrees of heterozygosity and genetic heterogeneity for adaptation traits helps achieving better individual and population buffering capacity. Traits that potentially enhance adaptive phenotypic plasticity or yield stability in variable climates include photoperiod‐sensitive flowering, plastic tillering, flooding tolerance, seedling heat tolerance and phosphorus efficiency. Farmer‐participatory dynamic gene pool management using broad‐based populations and diverse selection environments is useful to develop new diverse germplasm adapted to specific production constraints including climate variability. For sustainable productivity increase, improved cultivars should respond to farmer‐adoptable soil fertility management and water harvesting techniques. Larger‐scale, on‐farm participatory testing will enable assessments of varietal performance under evolving climatic variability, provide perspective on needs and opportunities and enhance adoption. Strengthening seed systems will be required to achieve sustainable impacts.

Analysis of Genotype by Environment Interaction of Improved Pearl Millet for Grain Yield and Rust Resistance

“…Unfortunately, the potential performance of improved genotypes under marginal conditions is always obscured by the effect of genotype by environment interaction (GEI) (Yan & Racjan, 2002); leading to selection of genotypes not suitable for particular environments (Cooper & Delacy, 1994) and subsequently leading to low yield. It is therefore important to assess GEI effect before releasing varieties (Gupta & Ndoye, 1991;Haussmann et al, 2012). Several methods have been adopted to assess GEI in pearl millet breeding but the GGE-biplot analysis was used in this study because of the ability to graphically better explain the genotype and genotype by environment components of variation and being more efficient in discriminating genotypes and environments (Yan et al, 2007).…”

Farmer Participatory Early‐Generation Yield Testing of Sorghum in West Africa: Possibilities to Optimize Genetic Gains for Yield in Farmers’ Fields

“…Therefore, direct selection for yield performance on-farm using on-farm, farmer-managed trials could achieve higher gains than selection under more favorable but nonrepresentative on-station conditions (Atlin et al, 2001;Ceccarelli and Grando, 2007). Also many farmers are interested to see new breeding materials and are willing to conduct trials, and thereby provide access to the large number of test environments required to sample the target population of environments in which new varieties need to perform (Haussmann et al, 2012;vom Brocke et al, 2014).…”

Social institutions mediating seed access in West African seed systems

“…Landraces make up the vast majority of the area planted with pearl millet and sorghum; Alene et al (2011) estimated that in 2011, <20% of the area for either crop was planted with improved varieties. Where improved varieties are used, they are almost entirely conventionally bred (without the use of genetic engineering) and openpollinated varieties that come from the national and international agricultural research centers, although research has increasingly focused on hybrid varieties (Haussmann et al 2012). In the data presented here, all improved varieties are open-pollinated and therefore able to be saved.…”