Contributions

CoA 5.1 Pre-breeding

Pre-breeding refers to activities designed to utilize un-adapted germplasm, which includes wild species as well as “exotic” landraces which are not suited for use directly in breeding programs²⁷². Wild species are valuable sources of new genes and alleles, particularly for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. While these have largely remained under-utilized due to crossability barriers and linkage drags due to negative alleles in regions flanking the desirable alleles, successful introgression of genes from wild species into their cultivated counterparts have been demonstrated, particularly from primary or secondary gene pools. ICRISAT, ICARDA and other CGIAR Genebanks facilitate access to regional and global germplasm diversity to scientists and NARES partners through global and the Regional Genebanks established in Africa. To enhance greater utilization of germplasm, core (10% of entire collection), mini core (10% of core or 1% of entire collection), and FIGS (Focused Identification of Germplasm Strategy) and Generation Challenge Program (GCP) reference sets provide entry points for capturing the diversity conserved in global genebanks. The regional genebanks are extremely important in providing easy access of germplasm to scientists especially in cases where export of certain germplasm is restricted in some countries.

Pre-breeding will develop intermediate breeding materials for developing new varieties. Some examples of the priority target traits for GLDC crops in this CoA include – chickpea (Helicoverpa, dry root rot), cowpea (flower thrips, Striga), groundnut (late leaf spot, Spodoptera), pigeonpea (Phytopthora blight, Helicoverpa), pearl millet (Blast, Striga) Sorghum (Shootfly, stem borer), and lentil (Stemphylium blight, collar rots). Traits where sufficient variation or sources of resistance are not available in the cultivated target crops, wild species and systematically-induced variations offer attractive options for identification and utilization of novel traits for germplasm enhancement, besides the use of transgenic technology for intractable traits/genes bypassing the species barriers.

The key activities in this CoA will include: 1) Resequencing, evaluation and characterization and identification of germplasm with superior and/or novel traits or wild introgressions in the background of elite cultivars; 2) use of wide hybridization to transfer desired traits from wild species into the breeding materials, or synthetically from the progenitors; 3) Development of new sources of cytoplasmic male sterility in crops like pearl millet, sorghum and pigeonpea; 4) Development of intermediate breeding materials with broad genetic base and desired traits for the development of farmer- and market-preferred varieties/hybrids (linked to FP4); and 5) Development of transgenics of GLDC crops for intractable traits, and their translation through FP4. Outputs from CoA5.1 will include the availability of novel and diverse germplasm, intermediate breeding materials with a broad genetic base and desired traits, and enhanced human capacity.