Contributions

Phenotyping: This activity aims to enhance genetic gains in GLDC crops by improving phenotyping quality. CoA 4.1 will support physiologists and geneticists to obtain precise information on aspects of a plant/crop in large populations, and breeders and agronomists to evaluate performance and management packages of breeding lines and candidate varieties in specific TPEs. FP4 will combine trait-based phenotyping with field-based phenotyping. High precision trait phenotyping, under controlled environment, will be shared with FP5, whilst field-based phenotyping will exploit FP3 field-sites. FP4 will create communities of practice on phenotyping that are supported by phenotyping hubs of Module 4 of the EiB⁷ platform, thereby, enhancing automation and mechanization in high throughput phenotyping. Optimal statistical design, metadata standards and new precise statistical methods, which combine design information with spatial adjustment within and between trials, will be systematically deployed. Phenotyping nodes will be connected to cloud-based data warehousing and computing using the BMS, sharing data collected across the network and fostering meta-analysis. Phenotypic information will be generated to improve system modelling for better prediction of crop combination effects on system productivity/resilience. Ultimately, this activity will enable FP4 to enhance synergies between cereals and legumes by generating phenotyping data at affordable costs that allow improvement in system modelling predictions for both crop types.

CoA 4.2: Breeding Pipelines

FP4 leverages Phase 1 CRP outputs, for the first two years of GLDC guided at a high level by CAADP country investment plans for Africa and strategic thrusts in South Asia for trait deployment. In order to respond to these increasing and diversified demands for GLDC crops, it is imperative that efficient breeding pipelines be developed for rapid development of varieties and hybrids. These modern varieties and hybrids will be high yielding, well adapted to existing and evolving environments, resilient to climate change, have improved nutritional quality and meet requirements of farmers, consumers and industry. This CoA will thus develop efficient and effective GLDC breeding pipelines guided by Product Concept Notes (PCNs). For each of the GLDC target crops, a one-page PCN is available with whose content is informed by prioritized GLDC crop attributes identified through pre-proposal foresight and ROI analyses, ongoing feedback from FP1, FP2, FP3 and other sources (Table FP4.2). GLDC will target breeding of dryland cereals and legumes to supply feeds and forages for the rapidly changing livestock sector. Key traits such as stover and haulm quality, as well as digestibility, will be bred into these crops. Feed and forage traits to be included as complementary traits are defined in the PCNs.

GLDC breeding programs will use innovative methods (e.g. MAGIC) for targeted population development, utilize diverse characterized germplasm and genetic stocks, pre-breeding material, and transgenic events provided by FP5, to combine multiple traits proposed in the PCNs²⁵³. Genetic, physiological and/or biochemical mechanisms of target traits identified in FP5 will inform development of FP4 breeding strategies. Identified and validated diagnostic molecular markers and or candidate genes of desired traits and the genotyping platforms of FP5 will be deployed in marker-assisted selection and forward breeding.