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    An integrated molecular and conventional breeding scheme for enhancing genetic gain in maize in Africa

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    Journal Article (1018.Kb)
    Date
    2019
    Author
    Gedil, M.
    Menkir, A.
    Type
    Journal Article
    Review Status
    Peer Review
    Target Audience
    Scientists
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract/Description
    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.
    https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.01430
    Multi standard citation
    Permanent link to this item
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12478/6918
    IITA Authors ORCID
    Melaku Gedilhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6258-6014
    Abebe Menkirhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5907-9177
    Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
    https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.01430
    Research Themes
    Biotech and Plant Breeding
    IITA Subjects
    Agronomy; Genetic Improvement; Maize; Plant Breeding; Plant Genetic Resources; Plant Production
    Agrovoc Terms
    Maize; Hybrids; Breeding; Drought; Striga; Genetic Gain; Foliar Diseases; Genomics; Molecular Genetics
    Regions
    Africa; West and Central Africa
    Countries
    Benin (Dahomey); Burkina Faso (Upper Volta); Cameroon; Ghana; Mali; Nigeria; Senegal; The Gambia; Togo
    Hubs
    Headquarters and Western Africa Hub
    Journals
    Frontiers in Plant Science
    Collections
    • Journal and Journal Articles4835
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