|
PI:
|
Fred Rattunde |
Contact Details
ICRISAT
B.P. 320, Bamako, Mali
Email direct from site:
F.rattunde@cgiar.org
|
|
Grantee:
|
ICRISAT/IER
|
|
Amount:
|
US $530,446
|
|
Duration:
|
Three Years |
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
