Introduction

The development of hybrid varieties based on the Guinea-race, the predominant sorghum race cultivated in WCA, promises to significantly increase productivity while retaining the required adaptive traits.  Initial results from this project show that Guinea-race experimental hybrids, the first ever, can give significant yield advantages of 50% over the best well adapted landrace varieties, and heterosis levels for grain yields of 100% and more.  This project is establishing the genetic foundation required to realize the potential benefits of heterosis and assure sustained gains from hybrid breeding with this race.  The key activities pursued by this joint project between the Institut dÉconomie Rural (IER), Mali and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) are:

• Establishment of heterotic pools for the sustainable progress of hybrid breeding.

• Characterization of Guinea-race germplasm and the development of genetically diverse Guinea-race hybrid parents, and

• Development and testing of Guinea-race hybrids and seed production procedures for the target zones.

Research activities, July 2001 to June 2002

• New test-crosses to determine fertility reaction among new breeding sorghum lines

• Evaluation of testcrosses for determination of fertility reaction of breeding lines and of Guinea-race accessions from the Guinea Core Collection.

• Production of experimental hybrids with Guinea-race accessions from Western, Central, Eastern and Southern-Africa as well as Asia to initiate testing of heterosis.

• Development of Male-Sterile Lines (BC1, BC2, BC3, and BC4).

• Characterization of agronomic diversity within the Guinea-race.