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PLANT BREEDING NEWS

EDITION 237

July 2012

An Electronic Newsletter of Applied Plant Breeding

Clair H. Hershey, [email protected]

Sponsored byGIPB,FAO/AGPand Cornell UniversitysDepartment of PlantBreeding and Genetics

-To subscribe, see instructionshere-Archived issues available at:FAO Plant Breeding Newsletter

1. NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RESEARCH NOTES

Reviews of broad issues in research and development1.01 Re-orienting crop improvement in the 21st century1.02 Global Food Security Index1.03Agricultural Adaptation to a Changing Climate

Reviews of breeding programs

1.04 Pioneer Indonesia unveils new hybrid corn1.05 Bangladesh to benefit from wheat variety tolerant to UG991.06 Clemson University develops new oat variety1.07 Winter wheat variety to PNW growers1.08 High yielding cowpea seeds boost production in Mali1.09 Rust resistant wheat well received in Nepal1.10 First marker assisted bred sorghum varieties released to farmersin Sub-Saharan Africa

1.11 British research leads to UK wide launch of beneforte broccoli1.12Africa: Experts Meet Over Seed Varieties1.13 Yields improve during five decades of wheat breeding1.14 Nigeria releases vitamin A maize to improve nutrition1.15 Danforth Plant Science Center awarded $12 million to studydrought as part of the effort to develop next generation bioenergygrasses1.16 Reportan mejoramiento gentico de variedades de semillas dearroz1.17 Kazakhstan: Plant breeders present new tomato variety1.18 IITA offers improved cassava, cowpea and maize seeds to Jigawa

state
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://km.fao.org/gipb/http://km.fao.org/gipb/http://km.fao.org/gipb/http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/en/http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/en/http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/en/http://plbrgen.cals.cornell.edu/http://plbrgen.cals.cornell.edu/http://plbrgen.cals.cornell.edu/http://plbrgen.cals.cornell.edu/http://www.fao.org/ag/agp/agpc/doc/services/pbn.htmlhttp://www.fao.org/ag/agp/agpc/doc/services/pbn.htmlhttp://www.fao.org/ag/agp/agpc/doc/services/pbn.htmlhttp://www.fao.org/ag/agp/agpc/doc/services/pbn.htmlhttp://plbrgen.cals.cornell.edu/http://plbrgen.cals.cornell.edu/http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/en/http://km.fao.org/gipb/mailto:[email protected]

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1.19 ICRISAT-HOPE sharply increases sorghum yields in Maharashtra,India

Genetic resources

1.20 Seeds of 1,100 Tibetan plant species preserved in a nationalgermplasm bank

Trait selection and applied breeding

1.21 Bright possibility for flood tolerant soybeans1.22 Molecular markers for nematode resistance breeding1.23 Scientists discover how nematodes attack plants1.24 Breeding Stevia for high leaf yield and high rebaudioside A

content1.25 Hydropriming method: To improve germination percentage anduniform seedlings establishment in diploid, triploid and tetraploidwatermelon1.26 Newly found genes may lead to nematode-resistant upland cotton1.27 Tannins in sorghum are focus of study by Kansas State Universityand USDA researchers1.28 En busca de genes de Lotus que toleren la salinidad1.29 Study reveals good news about the glycemic index of rice1.30 Salt-tolerant chickpea project to boost crop production1.31 Purdue University scientists working to make drought-resistantcrops1.32 Focusing on flood-tolerant soybeans1.33 Link discovered between tomato ripening color and taste1.34 Improving blast resistance of rice thru market assisted genepyramiding

Molecular and basic genetics research

1.35 Scientists find key gene for Glycemic Index of rice1.36 Scientists find way to develop tomato varieties with taste of

heirloom counterparts1.37 Scientists discover new source of maize hybrid vigor1.38 Rice gene identified to enhance quality productivity1.39 Iron biofortification and homeostasis in transgenic cassava rootsexpressing an algal iron assimilatory protein, FEA11.40 The banana (Musa acuminata) genome and the evolution ofmonocotyledonous plants1.41 First plant genomics yield technology progresses1.42 Glyphosate-resistant 'superweeds' may be less susceptible todiseases1.43Application of next-generation sequencing for rapid marker

development in molecular plant breeding1.44 Scientists find potential solution for inbreeding depression

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1.45 How the same plant species can programme itself to flower atdifferent times in different climates1.46 Major investment to persuade bacteria to help cereals self-fertilise

1.47 Salt cress genome yields new clues to salt tolerance1.48 Chinese scientists identify yield-boosting rice gene1.49 Illumina introduces Nextera Exome and Custom Enrichmentsample preparation kits1.50 Melon genome sequenced1.51 New method for associating genetic variation with crop traits1.52 Sequencing technology helps reveal what plant genomes reallyencode.

2. PUBLICATIONS2.01 Pr-melhoramento de plantas: estado da arte e experincias de

sucesso2.02Analyzing plant biotechnology patents - 3 traits relevant to climatechange2.03 Marker-assisted selection in crops, livestock, forestry and fish2.04 New method for associating genetic variation with crop traits2.05 Plant Evolution and the Origin of Crop Species2.06 Breeding Sorghum for low phosphorus soils in West Africa2.07 Historical genomics of North American maize2.08 Widespread adoption of Bt cotton and insecticide decreasepromotes biocontrol services2.09 First Textbook on Organic Crop Breeding Published

3. WEB AND NETWORKING RESOURCES3.01 New FAO Biotechnology Glossary website3.02 TGAC launches MISO (Managing Information for SequencingOperations), a free open source LIMS for NGS

4. POSITION ANNOUNCEMENTS4.01 Monsanto plant breeding and related scientist positions:

5. MEETINGS, COURSES AND WORKSHOPS

6. EDITOR'S NOTES

1 NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RESEARCH NOTES

1.01 Re-orienting crop improvement in the 21st century

The scientific journal Agriculture & Food Security has just published "Re-orienting crop improvement for the changing climatic conditions of the 21stcentury" by C. Mba, E.P. Guimares and K. Ghosh.

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The paper underscores that plant breeding must be re-oriented in order togenerate 'smart' crop varieties that yield more with fewer inputs. It highlightssome of the current plant breeding techniques that hold great promise for crop

improvement, including marker-assisted selection, targeting induced locallesions in genomes (TILLING), genetic modification, as well as emergingbiotechnologies of relevance to plant breeding such as zinc finger nuclease,oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis, synthetic genomics, etc.

The paper also recommends adequate policies to enable plant breeding,training of a new generation of plant breeders, establishment of partnerships(including public-private sector synergies), adoption of the continuum approachto the management of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture asmeans to improved cohesion of the components of its value chain, andstrengthening the national agricultural research and extension systems of

developing countries.

See http://www.agricultureandfoodsecurity.com/content/pdf/2048-7010-1-7.pdf(350 KB) or contact [email protected] for more information.

FAO Biotechnology websitehttp://www.fao.org/biotech/en/

Source: FAO-BiotechNews

(Return to Contents)

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1.02 Global Food Security Index

Indexing three core issues in 105 countries:

AffordabilityAvailabilityQuality and Safety

Our index measures the risks and factors that drive food security, including:

Affordability: Food consumption as a share of household expenditure Proportion of population under global poverty line Gross domestic product per capita Agricultural import tariffs Presence of food safety net programs Access to farmer financing

Availability

Sufficiency of supply Public expenditure on agricultural R&D
http://www.fao.org/biotech/en/http://www.fao.org/biotech/en/http://www.fao.org/biotech/en/http://www.fao.org/biotech/en/

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Agricultural infrastructure Volitility of agricultural production Political instability

Quality and safety Diet diversification Nutritional standards Micronutrient availability Protein quality Food safety

See how your country fares... or view the overall indexhttp://foodsecurityindex.eiu.com/

Contributed by Rodomiro [email protected]


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1.03 Agricultural Adaptation to a Changing Climate

The ERS Research Report 136, Agricultural Adaptation to a Changing Climate,was recently published and is available athttp://www.ers.usda.gov/media/848748/err136.pdf

AbstractGlobal climate models predict increases over time in average temperatureworldwide, with significant impacts on local patterns of temperature andprecipitation. The extent to which such changes present a risk to food supplies,farmer livelihoods, and rural communities depends in part on the direction,magnitude, and rate of such changes, but equally importantly on the ability ofthe agricultural sector to adapt to changing patterns of yield and productivity,production cost, and resource availability. Study fi ndings suggest that, while

impacts are highly sensitive to uncertain climate projections, farmers haveconsiderable flexibility to adapt to changes in local weather, resourceconditions, and price signals by adjusting crops, rotations, and productionpractices. Such adaptation, using existing crop production technologies, canpartially mitigate the impacts of climate change on national agriculturalmarkets. Adaptive redistribution of production, however, may have signifi cantimplications for both regional land use and environmental quality.

Contributed by Robin A DavisSenior Examiner, Plant Variety Protection Office USDA, AMS, Science &Technology

Beltsville, [email protected]
http://foodsecurityindex.eiu.com/Indexhttp://foodsecurityindex.eiu.com/Indexhttp://foodsecurityindex.eiu.com/http://foodsecurityindex.eiu.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.ers.usda.gov/media/848748/err136.pdfhttp://www.ers.usda.gov/media/848748/err136.pdfmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.ers.usda.gov/media/848748/err136.pdfmailto:[email protected]://foodsecurityindex.eiu.com/http://foodsecurityindex.eiu.com/Index

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1.04 Pioneer Indonesia unveils new hybrid corn

A new corn hybrid was launched by DuPont Pioneer in Indonesia. The hybridlabeled as P27 produces superior ears with high quality grain filling and withthe capability to develop strong stalks and sturdier root systems for enhancedperformance in adverse weather conditions and low yielding environments.

Aside from the gathering of 3,000 farmers who listened to the benefits andproper agronomic techniques to be applied in planting P27, Pioneer also

unveiled a 2,400 m elephant-shaped crop formation (as seen from anairplane!), representing the characteristics of the new hybrid: strong anddependable.

Read the media release athttp://www.pioneer.com/home/site/about/template.CONTENT/news-media/feature-stories/guid.88B1B26D-F859-B110-0CAA-C5A83A76611D

Source: Crop Biotech Update 27 July 2012:

Contributed by Margaret SmithDepartment of Plant Breeding & Genetics, Cornell [email protected]


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1.05 Bangladesh to benefit from wheat variety tolerant to UG99

The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) has

introduced a wheat variety known as Francolin in Bangladesh which is tolerantto the Ug99 strain of stem-rust fungus. CIMMYT was assisted by theBangladesh Agricultural Research Institute and supported in part by a UnitedStates Agency for International Development seed-multiplication program. Thenew seed variety will be combined with another seed variety called Hashi tocover around 5% of the country's total area harvested by 2013.

The article is available athttp://globalrust.org/traction/permalink/newsroom678


Contributed by Margaret SmithDepartment of Plant Breeding & Genetics, Cornell University
http://www.pioneer.com/home/site/about/template.CONTENT/news-media/feature-stories/guid.88B1B26D-F859-B110-0CAA-C5A83A76611Dhttp://www.pioneer.com/home/site/about/template.CONTENT/news-media/feature-stories/guid.88B1B26D-F859-B110-0CAA-C5A83A76611Dhttp://www.pioneer.com/home/site/about/template.CONTENT/news-media/feature-stories/guid.88B1B26D-F859-B110-0CAA-C5A83A76611Dmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://globalrust.org/traction/permalink/newsroom678http://globalrust.org/traction/permalink/newsroom678http://globalrust.org/traction/permalink/newsroom678http://globalrust.org/traction/permalink/newsroom678mailto:[email protected]://www.pioneer.com/home/site/about/template.CONTENT/news-media/feature-stories/guid.88B1B26D-F859-B110-0CAA-C5A83A76611Dhttp://www.pioneer.com/home/site/about/template.CONTENT/news-media/feature-stories/guid.88B1B26D-F859-B110-0CAA-C5A83A76611D

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[email protected]


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1.06 Clemson University develops new oat variety

Plant breeders from Clemson University announced a new high-yielding oatvariety that grows to medium height, withstands lodging, matures earlier, andproduces more seeds than comparable varieties. The new variety, namedGraham, will be available in limited quantities for growers to plant during thefall planting season, according to Chris Ray, director of the South CarolinaCrop Improvement Association.

Ray said that Graham has "excellent yield potential and produces a 32.2-pound bushel compared to 31.9-pound bushel for Rodgers." It has producedslightly higher test weights (pounds per bushel) and consistently 20 bushelsper acre more yield than the most commonly used oat varieties planted in theCarolinas.

Clemson University Public Service and Agriculture oversees the S.C. CropImprovement Association, which runs the foundation seed program to providegrowers with the highest-quality planting stock available. The seed is producedat Clemson University Experiment Station research centers and madeavailable to producers and seedsmen.

The new oat variety is named after W. Doyce Graham, the small-grainsbreeder at Clemson University from 1966 to 2003.

More information about the Graham oat variety can be read at

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120723151149.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29




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1.07 Winter wheat variety to PNW growers
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120723151149.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120723151149.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120723151149.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120723151149.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120723151149.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120723151149.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120723151149.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29mailto:[email protected]

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SY Ovation, a new AgriPro brand soft white winter wheat of Syngenta, hasbeen introduced for the coming winter season. The wheat variety wasdeveloped through doubled haploid technology and has proven to be a high-

yielding semi-dwarf variety.

According to Ed Driskill, cereal key account lead of Syngenta in Idaho, "Thisvariety is early-maturing and was also developed to endure an environmentprone to intense stripe rust pressure like we have here in the Pacific NorthWest." The new variety also tolerates soilborne mosaic virus and drylandfootrot, and has good tillering and excellent straw strength.

For more details, view the news release at

http://www.syngentacropprotection.com/news_releases/news.aspx?id=167643

Source: Crop Biotech Update 13 July 2012



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1.08 High yielding cowpea seeds boost production in Mali

The West African Seed Alliance's (WASA) seeds project in Mali, a programsupported by the United States Agency for International Development(USAID), is seen to be a successful initiative to increase local production andaccess to high quality-certified seeds of major staple crops for farmers in thecountry.

The project started three years ago when WASA trained women in Mali tobecome seed producers to improve their income and to help fill the yield gap

on farms by buying locally-produced seeds. The International Crops ResearchInstitute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the Malian NationalAgricultural System gave them a high-yielding cowpea seed variety whileWASA's regional office in Mopti, Mali provided technical support in soil, water,and pest management.

After three years, an average seed producer who participated in the training isreported to drastically increase yield with high quality cowpea seeds from twobags of 100 kg to eight bags of 100 kg per harvest. The project will bereinforced in five other target African countries, namely Burkina Faso, Ghana,Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal.
http://www.syngentacropprotection.com/news_releases/news.aspx?id=167643http://www.syngentacropprotection.com/news_releases/news.aspx?id=167643mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.syngentacropprotection.com/news_releases/news.aspx?id=167643

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View the original article athttp://library.cgiar.org/bitstream/handle/10947/2647/Mali_Sowing_the_Seeds_of_Success.%20pdf?sequence=1




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1.09 Rust resistant wheat well received in Nepal

With active awareness among farmers, wheat breeders, and pathologists,Nepal is fully prepared to face the possible arrival of the stem rust race Ug99as resistant varieties are already in farmers' fields. This is the statement ofSarala Sharma, Senior Plant Pathologist of Nepal Agricultural ResearchCouncil during a Village Development Committee Centre (VDC) activity in oneof the farming communities in Nepal.

Sharma also described how successful the farmer participatory varietyselection (PVS) approach is in terms of wheat production in the country asPVS resulted in rapid increase in adoption rates of new varieties andremarkable reduction of yellow rust in wheat. Through PVS, farmers havewidened the coverage of rust resistant varieties, tested new options, andgradually replaced older, lower-yielding varieties, thus increasing productionand productivity.With the new varieties, the farmers enjoy a ten percent yieldincrease in wheat.

For more information, visithttp://blog.cimmyt.org/?p=8465

Source: Crop Biotech Update 29 June 2012



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1.10 First marker assisted bred sorghum varieties released to farmers inSub-Saharan Africa
http://library.cgiar.org/bitstream/handle/10947/2647/Mali_Sowing_the_Seeds_of_Success.%20pdf?sequence=1http://library.cgiar.org/bitstream/handle/10947/2647/Mali_Sowing_the_Seeds_of_Success.%20pdf?sequence=1http://library.cgiar.org/bitstream/handle/10947/2647/Mali_Sowing_the_Seeds_of_Success.%20pdf?sequence=1mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://blog.cimmyt.org/?p=8465http://blog.cimmyt.org/?p=8465http://blog.cimmyt.org/?p=8465mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://blog.cimmyt.org/?p=8465mailto:[email protected]://library.cgiar.org/bitstream/handle/10947/2647/Mali_Sowing_the_Seeds_of_Success.%20pdf?sequence=1http://library.cgiar.org/bitstream/handle/10947/2647/Mali_Sowing_the_Seeds_of_Success.%20pdf?sequence=1

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Sudan's National Crop Variety Release Committee has approved the releaseof four experimental Striga-resistant sorghum varieties, namely: ASARECA.T1"(T1BC3S4), "ASARECA.W2 Striga" W2BC3S4, "ASARECA.AG3" AG2BC3S4;

and "ASARECA.AG4" (AG6BC3S4). These are from Striga-susceptibleimproved sorghum varieties "Tabat", "Wad Ahmed", and "AG8".

This is the first time an African national program adopted and implementedmarker-assisted backcrossing, through multi-institutional collaboration togenerate improved cultivars against Striga, a serious problem of cerealfarmers in sub-Saharan Africa. The program to develop these four varietieswas initiated in 2004, under a BMZ-supported project involving theInternational Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), theUniversity of Hohenheim, and national program partners in Eritrea, Kenya,Mali, and Sudan.

More details are available athttp://www.icrisat.org/newsroom/latest-news/happenings/happenings1525.htm#3




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1.11 British research leads to UK wide launch of beneforte broccoli

Scientists at the Institute of Food Research (IFR) and the John Innes Centre inUK launched the new broccoli variety, Benefort developed throughconventional breeding. It contains two to three times the level ofglucoraphanin, a health promoting and anti-cancer compound, compared tostandard broccoli. The IFR scientists are further investigating how the brassica

phytonutrient glucoraphanin exerts its effect on human health and the linkbetween eating broccoli and lower rates of heart disease and some forms ofcancer. Benefort has been tested in Marks and Spencer in October 2011.

The study was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences ResearchCouncil (BBSRC) and Professor Douglas Kell, BBSRC Chief Executive, said,"The roll-out of Benefort broccoli to supermarkets across the UK is greatnews for the public and UK science alike. This development follows years ofpublicly funded research to understand the fundamental bioscience of broccoliand the compounds within it. This knowledge has now been translated into acommercial product, with significant potential health benefits, available to all."
http://www.icrisat.org/newsroom/latest-news/happenings/happenings1525.htm#3http://www.icrisat.org/newsroom/latest-news/happenings/happenings1525.htm#3http://www.icrisat.org/newsroom/latest-news/happenings/happenings1525.htm#3http://www.icrisat.org/newsroom/latest-news/happenings/happenings1525.htm#3mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.icrisat.org/newsroom/latest-news/happenings/happenings1525.htm#3http://www.icrisat.org/newsroom/latest-news/happenings/happenings1525.htm#3

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See the news release athttp://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/health/2012/120625-pr-uk-wide-launch-beneforte-broccoli.aspx




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1.12 Africa: Experts Meet Over Seed Varieties

25 July 2012

African crop breeding experts have begun a week-long meeting in Nairobi todiscuss ways of tackling the issue of better and more available seed forsmallholder farmers, organisers said on Tuesday.

The meeting organised by Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)brought together over 100 experts, including World Food Prize laureate,Gebesa Ejeta, to seek ways of meeting smallholder farmers' need for highperforming and high impact seed varieties.

Speaking at the event, AGRA's director of seed program Joe Devries said theirprograms have so far supported the development of almost 400 new seedvarieties and the commercialization of over 200."The challenge now is how toaddress the gap between the released varieties and the commercialized. If wecan get this right we'll be able to make lasting impact on the lives of millions ofsmallholders in Africa," Devries told the meeting.

AGRA president, Jane Karuku, said farmers in Africa have largely notbenefited from improved seeds due to a lack of localized crop breeding and

efficient, dependable seed delivery system.

"And so crop yields in most of Africa have remained one-third of thoseproduced by farmers in other developing regions of the worlds. Good seed isnot just the driving force behind good harvests and eliminating poverty andhunger, it's the foundation for rapid economic growth," said Karuku.

The first step towards farmers accessing simple science is ensuring thatfarmers have access to improved seeds. This has been a major challengeacross Africa, with seed companies not able to meet the demand by farmers,resulting to farmer turning to their grains as seeds.
http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/health/2012/120625-pr-uk-wide-launch-beneforte-broccoli.aspxhttp://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/health/2012/120625-pr-uk-wide-launch-beneforte-broccoli.aspxhttp://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/health/2012/120625-pr-uk-wide-launch-beneforte-broccoli.aspxhttp://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/health/2012/120625-pr-uk-wide-launch-beneforte-broccoli.aspxmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/health/2012/120625-pr-uk-wide-launch-beneforte-broccoli.aspxhttp://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/health/2012/120625-pr-uk-wide-launch-beneforte-broccoli.aspx

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AGRA said its own seed program has begun to address some of thesechallenges successfully with the majority of farmers targeted accessing thenew seed reporting dramatic increases in their harvests. As a result of AGRA's

support to many partners, an additional 40,000 MT per annum of hybrid seed,representing 1/3 of the commercially produced seed in Africa, is now reachingsmallholder farmers. These seeds have been produced by 60 small, African-owned seed companies launched with capital and strengthened by AGRA - a100 percent increase in the number of such companies.

In terms of food production, this means an additional 4 million MT of staplecrops per annum. AGRA's experts believe that the tipping point to food securitywith respect to improved seeds is 500,000 MT per annum of high yielding,improved crop varieties.

World Food Prize laureate Gebesa Ejeta said the global food security is thebiggest challenge that the world needs to address now and the science ofplant breeding is a critical component in that agenda. Ejeta said in a countrylike Ethiopia, farming technology has hardly improved with farmers usingoutdated farming practices that do not increase their yields or impact on theirlivelihoods significantly. "For farmers to improve their livelihoods and increasetheir income we need to see simple science available to people, like improvedseeds. If we do not get our act together the continent will be left behind," hesaid.

Source: Xinhua

http://allafrica.com/stories/201207260054.html

Source: SeedQuest.com


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1.13 Yields improve during five decades of wheat breeding

24 Jul, 2012

Wheat varieties are a common topic of discussion among broad-acre farmersacross Australia, and variety presentations are always well attended at fielddays.

Wheat breeding has evolved since the green revolution of the 1960s whensemi-dwarf wheats replaced tall wheats prone to lodging. But how much didwheat yield improve over all these years? What are the physiological changesin the crop associated with breeding for yield? Are there implications for crop

management?
http://allafrica.com/stories/201207260054.htmlhttp://allafrica.com/stories/201207260054.htmlhttp://allafrica.com/stories/201207260054.html

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Working closely with industry, SARDI crop scientists Chris Lawson and VictorSadras set out to answer these questions.

Field trials were established in 2010 and 2011 across the Mid North of SouthAustralia to compare a selection of popular wheat varieties released between1958 and 2007. They were Heron (1958), Gamenya (1960), Halberd (1969),Condor (1973), Warigal (1978), Spear (1984), Machete (1985), Janz (1989),Frame (1994), Krichauff (1997), Yitpi (1999), Wyalkatchem (2001) and Gladius(2007).

The trials demonstrated that yield has steadily increased over the past 50years at a rate of 18kg per hectare per year. This rate compares well with ratesreported for other breeding programs worldwide. It is encouraging that yieldprogress is not slowing down over time.

Industry support includes funding by GRDCs initiative on water use efficiency(DAS00089); Peter Hooper and colleagues at Hartfield providing agronomicinsight and material support with the trials; Roseworthy and SARDI Clare staffproviding agronomic support; and Snowtown farmer Don Whiting and plantbreeders Tony Rathjen (University of Adelaide) and Haydn Kuchel (AGT)providing expert advice and seed.

The increase in yield was associated with an improvement in harvest index;new varieties produce more grain per kg of biomass. Newer varieties alsogrow faster between stem elongation and flowering.

This period, which in SA generally occurs between August and October, iscritical for yield. Enhanced crop growth in this period leads to greater grainnumber.

This finding has implications for management: ensuring good conditions duringthis period, in particular crop protection and nitrogen supply, is critical tocapture the yield benefits of high yielding varieties.

Breeding for yield improved the ability of wheat to uptake soil nitrogen. Newer

varieties are much better at mining the soil than older varieties.

This reinforces the need to monitor soil nitrogen and to improve the nitrogennutrition of crops to capture the benefits of improved varieties, particularly inthe period between stem elongation and flowering.

The newer varieties achieve higher yield with the same amount of water use.The agronomic implication of this finding is that our water use efficiencybenchmark needs an update.

The benchmark of 20 kg grain/ha per mm of water use was largely developed

using Halberd, a variety released in 1969. We find the benchmark for currentvarieties under SA conditions is close to 24 kg grain per ha per mm.

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This work shows the outstanding success of local breeding programs inincreasing yield and the practical value of asking questions about the

physiology of the crop.

This research is critical at a number of levels, from crop breeding andmanagement to farm profitability and long term food security. Furtherimprovements in wheat yield associated with both improved varieties andbetter agronomy are more likely to arise from a focus on the critical pre-flowering period.

The final report can be found at the GRDC website.

http://sj.farmonline.com.au/news/state/grains-and-cropping/barley/yields-

improve-during-five-decades-of-wheat-breeding/2615309.aspx?storypage=0



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1.14 Nigeria releases vitamin A maize to improve nutrition

Ibadan, NigeriaJuly 24, 2012

The Nigerian Government has released two new maize hybrids that canprovide more vitamin A in the diets of millions in the country, raising optimismabout stemming the menace of vitamin A deficiency in the years ahead,especially among children, pregnant women, and mothers. The provitamin A isconverted by the body into vitamin A when the maize is eaten.

The hybrids, which are the first generation vitamin A-rich maize, were releasedon 4 July 2012 by the National Variety Release Committee of Nigeria as Ife

maizehyb 3 and Ife maizehyb 4. They are recognized as IITA hybrids A0905-28 and A0905-32, respectively.

The hybrids are a product of nearly a decade of breeding for enhanced levelsof pro-vitamin A, says Dr. Abebe Menkir, maize breeder with the InternationalInstitute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), who led the development of the newmaize hybrids.

The hybrids outperformed local checks with yields ranging from 6 to 9 tons perhectare compared with 2 tons per hectare recorded on most farmers fields.

The vitamin A hybrids were developed by IITA in partnership with the Instituteof Agricultural Research & Training (IAR&T) using conventional breeding in a
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project funded by the HarvestPlusa Challenge Program of the CGIAR aspart of strategies to address the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency. Othercollaborating partners include the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR),

Zaria; University of Maiduguri; International Maize and Wheat Center(CIMMYT), University of Illinois, and University of Wisconsin.

In Nigeria, vitamin A deficiency afflicts about 30% of children below five yearsof age, almost 20% of pregnant women, and 13% of nursing mothers. VitaminA deficiency lowers immunity and impairs vision, which can lead to blindnessand even death.

Researchers say the two hybrids can supply enhanced levels of vitamin A inthe diets. Maize is consumed by millions of people throughout Nigeria, whetherroasted and eaten off the cob or as a dish prepared from fermented maize

flour.

According to Menkir, maize is the most frequently consumed staple in Nigeriawith about 20% of households consuming it at different times within a week.

These hybrids will provide not only increased amounts of provitamin A butalso improve productivity in farming communities, he says.

Farmers who participated in the on-farm trials indicated that they liked thevarieties, so there is a high prospect for quick adoption.

IITA and IAR& T, in partnership with private seed companies, now plan tomultiply these hybrids so they can begin distributing them to farmers by 2014,and to continue to develop higher levels of vitamin A in maize by conventionalbreeding.

We plan to target to areas where maize consumption is high to help addressthe problem of vitamin A deficiency in Nigeria says Dr. Samuel Olakojo, amaize breeder with IAR &T, who worked on the varieties with Menkir.

The release of vitamin A cassava in Nigeria last year should help pave the way

for broad acceptance of the vitamin A maize. These new maize varieties arewell suited to the tropical lowlands of many West African countries and areexpected to spread beyond Nigeria's borders.

In a parallel effort, the International Maize and Wheat Research Center (knownby their Spanish acronym CIMMYT) a sister CGIAR Center of IITA hasbeen breeding mid-altitude vitamin A-rich varieties for Zambia in a project alsofunded by HarvestPlus, with release anticipated later this year.

http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=28565&id_region=&id_category=&id_crop=

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1.15 Danforth Plant Science Center awarded $12 million to study droughtas part of the effort to develop next generation bioenergy grasses

St. Louis, Missouri, USAJuly 16, 2012

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded a five year, $12.1 million grantto researchers at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and theircollaborators at the Carnegie Institution for Science, the University of Illinois,

Urbana-Champaign, the University of Minnesota and Washington StateUniversity to develop a new model plant system, Setaria viridis, to advancebioenergy grasses as a sustainable source of renewable fuels.

Setaria viridis, model genetic systemsDrought is the number one stress crops endure which limits yield and is ofgrowing concern due to the globes diminishing water supply and climatechange. This year, extreme heat and lack of rainfall combined with the mildwinter has resulted in an all-time low in soil moisture and is producing newchallenges for our nations farmers. Reduced yields will likely spark a reboundin global food prices. Drought conditions also have a major impact on cropsthat serve as sources of bioenergy.

Bioenergy grasses hold promise to provide a sustainable source of renewablefuels for the U.S. economy and reduce our dependence on foreign petroleum.These dedicated second generation bioenergy crops can be grown onmarginal lands and with fewer inputs than traditional row crops such as corn,which requires energy intensive annual planting and the addition of chemicalfertilizers. Bioenergy grasses require water just like all other crops and the nextgeneration of bioenergy crops will need to be bred for important characteristicsincluding drought resistance and other properties that will make them more

productive.

To engineer bioenergy grasses with the desirable traits needed for large scaleproduction, it is necessary to develop model plant systems that are closelyrelated to bioenergy feedstocks, but which are more amenable to geneticanalysis. One of the most promising model species is the grass Setaria viridis.

What we learn in improving bioenergy grasses in many cases can also beapplied to cereal crops to improve their productivity. Setaria viridis, the modelspecies that will be used as the focus of our research, is closely related to cornand Brachypodium, another model grass of interest at the Danforth Center that

has a genetic makeup similar to wheat, said Dr. Tom Brutnell, director of the

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Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels who is serving asPrincipal Investigator on the grant.

Brutnell and his colleagues will utilize genomic, computational and engineeringtools to begin the genetic dissection of drought and density response in S.viridis. The research team will produce one of the most extensive molecularcharacterizations of plant growth in the field to date, generating several milliondata points that will be collected from physiological and molecular geneticstudies. In doing so, they hope to discover the mechanisms that underliedrought responses and identify candidate genes and pathways for improvingthe closely related feedstock grasses. The ability of bioenergy feedstocks touse water efficiently and to produce abundant yields at high density will bemajor drivers in the development of improved varieties that can serve as areplacement for petroleum-based fuels.

Co-PIs/Senior Personnel, Institutions on the grant include:Ivan Baxter, USDA-ARS/Donald Danforth Plant Science CenterAsaph Cousins, Washington State UniversityJose Dinneny, Carnegie Institution for ScienceAndrew D.B. Leakey, University of Illinois, Urbana-ChampaignTodd Mockler, Donald Danforth Plant Science CenterHector Quemada, Donald Danforth Plant Science CenterSeung (Sue) Rhee, Carnegie Institution for ScienceDaniel Voytas, University of Minnesota




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1.16 Reportan mejoramiento gentico de variedades de semillas de arroz

14 de julio de 2012Mexico

El Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrcolas y Pecuarias(INIFAP) report avances importantes a travs del Campo Experimental deZacatepec en el mejoramiento gentico de variedades de semillas del arrozque se cultiva en los estados centrales del pas.

En un comunicado de la Sagarpa, el instituto inform que adems promuevediferentes mtodos para producir este cereal, con un fuerte impulso al sistema

de siembra directa que est siendo adoptado por productores de las regiones

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altas de Morelos, a efecto de cambiar la produccin con el mtodo tradicionalde trasplante.

El sistema de siembra directa consiste en hacerlo en seco, con unasembradora de granos pequeos a una densidad de 100 a 120 kilogramos desemilla por hectrea, donde se deber aplicar un riego pesado de germinaciny, posteriormente, riegos peridicos.

Resalt que este mtodo favorece la maduracin uniforme del grano y por lotanto la cosecha se puede efectuar en forma rpida y econmica, al abarcarvarias hectreas en un solo da.

La superficie sembrada en los ltimos aos en esta entidad se ha mantenidoal alza, con la obtencin de mayores rendimientos en los municipios de

Cuautla y Emiliano Zapata.

Explic que dentro de las acciones del centro, destaca la adopcin de tcnicasinnovadoras y el apoyo con paquetes tecnolgicos, as como el tratamientoque debe tener la semilla, la preparacin del terreno, la densidad y forma desembrar, el control de las malezas, el riego o manejo del agua y la nutricinvegetal.

La Secretara de Agricultura, Ganadera, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca yAlimentacin (Sagarpa) inform que a nivel nacional en 2011 se sembraron 36mil 800 hectreas de arroz palay, con una produccin de ms de 173 miltoneladas y un valor comercial de 653 mil 400 pesos.

http://yucatan.com.mx/imagen/reportan-mejoramiento-genetico-de-variedades-de-semillas-de-arroz/



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1.17 Kazakhstan: Plant breeders present new tomato variety

09 July 2012

Scientists from the Kazakh Research Institute of Potato and VegetableGrowing have made a special gift for Astanas anniversary.

They have bred and grown a new crop variety in greenhouses. It is the resultof the interaction of plant breeders from Kazakhstan with their Europeancounterparts. A new type of tomato was named Heart of Astana. In addition,

the institute is working on several hybrid varieties of tomatoes. So scientistssaid that locally-grown vegetables will soon be available for people in
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Kazakhstan to make salads and pickled products. And this is just thebeginning, according to plant selection breeders.

Chairman of state crop variety testing commission Talgat Azhagaliyev: "Therewill, of course, be new technologies and new varieties ahead. They will beintroduced into production. This applies not only to vegetable crops but allagricultural crops will have the same innovative approach and the agriculturalsector of our country will be well represented in the world market of agriculturalproducts in the future".

Scientists did not leave out another popular vegetable. These plant breedinggreenhouses grow cucumbers, which cannot yet be found in vegetablepatches around Kazakhstan. This is the top-grade domestic cucumber varietyfor cultivation in areas under glass, that is, in greenhouses. The seeds that are

inside will soon give way to a new variety.

Post-graduate researcher in agriculture Aigul Nussupova: "Notice how high-yielding the new variety is. From one node we get ripe fruit, flowers and smallcucumbers. Selection activities are quite difficult. However, scientists havemade it and it turned out great".

Scientists promised that the new varieties will suit the taste of all people inKazakhstan and become popular in the country.

http://kazakh-zerno.kz/eng/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=538



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1.18 IITA offers improved cassava, cowpea and maize seeds to Jigawastate

Ibadan, NigeriaJuly 17, 2012

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has offered Jigawastate improved cowpea and maize varieties, as part of efforts to help improvethe fortunes of agriculture in that state.

The Institute also plans to backstop the newly established state-ownedcassava starch industry, linking it to markets and also offering farmersimproved cassava planting materials to ensure a steady supply of cassavaroots to the factory
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In the next two weeks, the institute will be delivering improved cassavaplanting materials for multiplication, said the Deputy Director General,Partnerships and Capacity Building (IITA), Dr Kenton Dashiell on Monday in

Dutse, Jigawa State.

Cassava, cowpea and maize are important crops in that Nigerias northwestern state, contributing to the food security and wealth creation of millionsof people.

The donation of the improved planting materials comes after the governor ofthe north western state, Dr Sule Lamido, gave an open invitation to theforemost agricultural research institute in Africa, IITA, to help his governmentturn-around agriculture at the Institutes 45th anniversary held on 6 July inIbadan, Oyo state.

Dr Dashiell said the institute is glad to help Jigawa state to tackle thechallenge of food insecurity, create wealth and improve livelihoods.

The about 1000kg of improved seeds comprising 500kg of cowpea and 500kgof maize will be planted across the 27 local governments of the state ondemonstration plots with the support of farmers and the Jigawa StateAgricultural Development Program. Seeds harvested from the demonstrationswill be given to farmers ahead of next planting season in 2013, amplifying thebenefits of improved technologies to farmers in the state.

The Institute will also assist the government by linking buyers to the JigawaState cassava starch factory.

With an installed processing capacity of 4 tons of cassava roots per hour, thefactory aims to add value to cassava, thereby creating wealth for cassavafarmers.

Plans are also on the table to begin the production of gari, and high qualitycassava flour that can be used by bakers and in the confectionary industry.

The introduction of improved cassava varieties will offer the state theopportunity to tap the power of the root crop for its rapid agriculturaldevelopment.

Jigawa State Governor, Dr Sule Lamido thanked IITA for offering to supportthe state in its agricultural transformation agenda.

We need to develop a strong partnership to impact positively on the lives ofour people, Lamido said.

He pledged to give the Institute the necessary support to improve the

livelihoods of the people of the state.

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Dr Dashiell was accompanied to Jigawa state by Dr Robert Asiedu, IITADirector (West Africa); Dr Gbassey Tarawali, IITA Scientist on Value Chains;and Godwin Atser, Communication Officer, (West & Central Africa).




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1.19 ICRISAT-HOPE sharply increases sorghum yields in Maharashtra,

India

Hyderabad, India6 July 2012

HOPE has become reality for 25,000 farmers in dryland Marathwada andWestern Maharashtra regions of the state of Maharashtra, known as theSorghum Bowl of India. Initial assessments indicate that their grain yieldsrose by 40% and fodder yields by 20% on average over the past threeseasons (2010-2012) due to improved sorghum varieties and cropmanagement practices, along with improved market linkages. About half ofthese farmers operate on a very small scale, with landholding size of twohectares or less.Net income (the income that farmers retain after their costs ofcultivation are paid for) has increased by 50%, to an average of US$78 perhectare of sorghum grown.

HOPE stands for Harnessing Opportunities for Productivity Enhancement ofSorghum and Millets in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, a projectsupported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. HOPE is led by theInternational Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) inclose partnership with several state and national institutions on sorghum in

India: Marathwada State Agricultural University, Mahatma PhuleKrishiVidyapeeth State Agricultural University (MPKV), and the National Directorateof Sorghum Research.

HOPE focuses its efforts in six target areas in the Sorghum Bowl that containespecially large areas of post-rainy-season sorghum. About one-third of thetargeted area is now sown to improved varieties, compared to just 10% beforeHOPE began its work. In a recent project planning meeting, Dr TA More, Vice-Chancellor of MPKV praised the results to date from HOPE, and stressed theneed for a Green Revolution through major improvements like these in rainfedcrops.

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The cropping system in the Sorghum Bowl is unique. Instead of growing thecrop in the warm summer rainy season it is sown after the rains end inSeptember/October, and harvested in January/February. Farmers plant the

crop on heavy clay soils that retain large amounts of the seasons excessrainwater; the sorghum roots then extract that water to support plant growth.The new varieties have been especially taken up by the poorest farmersbecause they depend the most on rainfed cropping, being least able to affordirrigation water.

The sorghum varieties that are delivering these impressive gains weredeveloped by Indian institutions by improving the traditional Maldandi type ofvarieties cultivated in this area. These new varieties are well adapted to thecold temperatures and short daylength of the winter months, and are tolerantor resistant to drought and to the pests and diseases prevalent during this

season such as aphids, shoot fly and charcoal rot.

Varieties are currently being developed that will yield larger, brighter grains toattract higher market prices. They derive from crosses made at ICRISATbetween the Maldandi types and durra sorghum types from East Africa.Hybrid varieties also under development are expected to raise yield by another20-30 percent. Dr William Dar, Director General of ICRISAT, explained that"Our international role is to encourage South-South sharing of promisingtechnologies such as the durra sorghums of Africa, and the hybrid sorghumtechnology of India. The benefits flow both ways."

Farmers typically keep about two-thirds of the sorghum crop for home use, andsell the rest. Farmers prize both the grains and the stalks of sorghum. Thegrains are for human consumption, while the stalks are fed to cattle. The twoportions of the crop are about equal in economic value. Small-scale farmerstypically own two to three cattle that they depend on to produce milk and to pullplows and cartloads.

Sorghum stalks are fed to livestock; when used in this way the stalks arereferred to as fodder. Growing demand for fodder to feed dairy cattle isexpected for years to come, because Indians are consuming more dairy

products as their incomes rise. Demand for fodder is especially strong in theparched northern states of Gujarat and Rajasthan, but those areas lacksufficient rainfall to grow enough fodder.

The demand for grain will also increase, but less rapidly. Indias National FoodSecurity Mission recently announced that it will buy and distribute sorghumgrain to Indias poor, expanding market opportunities for farmers. To betteraccess grain markets, HOPE is helping farmers improve the cleaning, gradingand packing of grain, and connecting them to sources of up-to-date informationon market prices and demand volumes.


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1.20 Seeds of 1,100 Tibetan plant species preserved in a nationalgermplasm bank

Beining, ChinaJuly 27, 2012

Chinese botanists have collected the seeds of more than 1,100 plant species

found in the southwestern Tibet autonomous region and preserved them in anational germplasm bank.

The seeds were gathered over the past five years mostly near the upperreaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River and on the Qiangtang Grassland,researchers with the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research under the ChineseAcademy of Sciences told Xinhua Thursday.

The samples were derived from plant species either native to Tibet or withconsiderable economic value, such as varieties of grass and traditional Tibetanherbs, said the researchers.

They are being kept in China Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, a leading bio-resource storage facility dubbed the "Noah's Ark" of the country's plantspecies.

A 2011 report on Tibet's environment says the region has one of the mostdiversified gene pools in the world, with more than 9,600 wild plant species,including 855 unique to Tibet.

The seed collection is part of a large project aimed at gathering seeds, DNA

samples and voucher specimens of 15,000 wild plant varieties growing on theQinghai-Tibet Plateau by the end of 2012, said Yang Xiangyun, a researcherwith the germplasm bank located in Kunming, provincial capital of Yunnan.

The comprehensive project, launched in 2007, was undertaken by 12 domesticinstitutions that have been conducting research in Tibet as well as Qinghai,Sichuan, Yunnan and Gansu provinces in China's west, Yang said.

The whole collection will be preserved in the bank, and detailed informationand pictures will be recorded in an online database, Yang said.

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"The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has many peculiar plant species, which issignificant in enriching the germplasm bank," said Yang Yongping, deputydirector of the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research.

The project provided important material for bio-diversity conservation andhelped the breeding of economically valuable plants on the plateau, he added.

With an investment of 148 million yuan ($23.2 million) and covering a floorarea of 7,000 square meters, the germplasm bank was established by theKunming Institute of Botany with the help of the Chinese Academy of Sciencesand put into use in October 2008.

The bank currently keeps seeds of 7,471 plant species growing across thecountry and aims to expand its collection to 19,000 species in about a decade.

The bank comprises a seed section, an in-vitro micro-propagation unit, amicroorganism bank, an animal germplasm bank, a DNA bank and aninformation center.

A 680-square-meter freezer in the bank can prevent the seeds from beingdamaged by mildew and insect infestations. Inside the bank, the seeds canmaintain their hereditary features and ability to sprout for as long as a century.(Source: Xinhua)




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1.21 Bright possibility for flood tolerant soybeans

Farmers in the Mississippi Delta can lose as much as 25 percent when theyplant soybean crops in rotation with paddy rice. But scientists led by U.S.Department Agricultural Research Service Tara Van Toai might just have thesolution to this problem. They are incorporating genes from non-nativesoybean varieties to supplement the narrow genetic base of U.S. soybeansand improve their tolerance to wet soil and associated diseases. This opens upthe possibility for flood tolerant soybeans.

In screenhouses, the scientists identified the top three flood-tolerant lines:Nam Vang, which is native to Cambodia; VND2, native to China; and ATF15-1,which is native to Australia. Plants grew the tallest, produced the biggest

seeds and highest yields. When planted in flooded experimental fields, theyobtained similar results.

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Check out the ARS News Service report athttp://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2012/120723.htm




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1.22 Molecular markers for nematode resistance breeding

Using molecular markers, scientists of the U.S. Department of Agriculturewould be able to expedite development of resistance to two important pests ofcotton the root knot nematode and the reniform nematode. These cottonpests have been wreaking havoc for more than 100 years and breedingresearch has slowed down because resistance is governed by multiple genes,as well as being costly and time-consuming.

At the agency's Genetic and Precision Agricultural Research Unit inMississippi, plant geneticist Johnie Jenkins and colleagues developed geneticmarkers for the genes responsible for resistance to root-knot nematode inupland cotton. They were identified and found to be in chromosomes 11 and14. The researchers also found resistance to reniform nematode in wildGossypium barbadense that is governed by more than one gene. The markerslinked to these genes were located in chromosomes 21 and 18.

Read the original news athttp://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=1261




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1.23 Scientists discover how nematodes attack plants

Controlling cyst nematode in soybean will save the U.S. soybean producersclose to $1 billion annually. The nematode was previously found to feed on
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2012/120723.htmhttp://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2012/120723.htmmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=1261http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=1261mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=1261mailto:[email protected]://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2012/120723.htm

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soybean cells by penetrating the roots and injecting cells with chemical signalsthat makes neighboring cells fuse to become the feeding site called syncytium.Once settled, the nematode lays eggs in a shell-like cyst structure.

Scientists Thomas Baum and Tarek Hewezi of Iowa State University studiedhow the nematode changes soybean gene activities to make the syncytium inthe plant's root cells. They discovered that microRNA396 plays an importantrole in this process. MicroRNAs are molecules that suppress the expression oftarget genes such that, at high concentration, the target genes or transcriptionfactors are inactivated and vice versa.

The team found that plants with a low level of microRNA396 develop asyncyctium easily during nematode penetration because the transcriptionfactors that may be related to defense are not activated. With this observation,

microRNA396 can be used in developing novel control mechanisms againstcyst nematodes.

See the full article athttp://www.ag.iastate.edu/news/releases/1024/




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1.24 Breeding Stevia for high leaf yield and high rebaudioside A content

Mohamad, O1., Abdullateef, R. A1., Lyena Watty Zuraine, A1., and Muhsin,M2.1Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia 2UKM-MTDC Symbiosis Programme,Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM),

43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, MalaysiaEmail: [email protected]

Abstract

The worldwide demand for an alternative and a high potency sweetener to theartificially produced sugar substitutes is increasing. The alternative naturalsweetener is from stevia plant. Today, the use of stevia extract from its leavesas a table-top sweetener is becoming increasingly well known because its zerocalorie. Although the potential for stevia to become a general substitute forsugar is promising, its products for certain niche markets are even more

promising, e.g. diabetic patients are likely to benefit from stevia products.Stevia, also known as sweet leaf or sugar leaf, belongs to genus Stevia
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comprising species of herbs and shrubs, and a member of the familyCompositae. It originated from Paraguay. Out of over 154 species of the genusthat were reported, Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is known to produce sweet

glycosides. The four major sweet glycosides are stevioside, rebaudioside A,rebaudioside C and dulcoside A. The stevioside ratio in leaves is about doublethat of rebaudioside A, making stevioside more plentiful in any leaf extract.Rebaudioside A makes up less than 3% of the glycosides within a stevia leaf.Stevioside and rebaudioside A are 110-270 times and 150-320 times sweeterthan sucrose, respectively. While stevioside is very much associated with theproblem of persistent aftertaste, rebaudioside A is drastically less bitter.Rebaudioside A is considered to have the most favourable sensory attributesof the four major glycosides. The current trend shows that increasing numberof countries are considering or giving approval to the use of rebaudioside A asa food supplement. Stevia was first introduced into Malaysia in 1970s. China

currently produces > 80% of stevia, and 90% of it goes to Japan (forproduction of natural sweeteners). It is hassle-free to grow stevia undertemperate environments like in China. Although stevia has the potential tobecome a viable crop in Malaysia, it has been stressed that we still lacksuitable varieties and appropriate production technologies. Several years ago,MARDI evaluated a fairly large number of introduced stevia accessions butfound majority of them showed relatively poor performance and produced verylow leaf yields. Thus, we will face many challenges and problems in trying tofix a temperate crop to be grown under our local tropical environments. As along-term strategy, it is possible to develop suitable varieties that can increaseoverall productivity in order to make stevia becomes a viable crop or emergesas a new industry in this country. With increased productivity arising from thedevelopment of suitable varieties, we can reduce the costs of production(currently estimated at > RM7/kg of fresh leaves) vis--vis their returns. To thisend, we initiated stevia research at IIUM, Kuantan beginning in 2010 with theaims of ultimately increasing leaf yields and rebaudioside A contents. Somebreeding strategies, approaches and progress from the research work will behighlighted.

Keywords: Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, stevia, natural sweetener, stevioside,rebaudioside A, aftertaste

Contributed by Mohamad bin OsmanInternational Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), [email protected]


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1.25 Hydropriming method: To improve germination percentage anduniform seedlings establishment in diploid, triploid and tetraploid

watermelon
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

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Jaejong Noh1*, Sameena Sheikh1 and Gi Tai Jeong11 Watermelon Experiment Station, Jeonbuk A.R.E.S., Gochang 585-863Republic of Korea

*corresponding author: [email protected]

For proper seed germination, growth and development, diploid watermelonrequires warm temperature of more than 260C (Whitaker and Davis, 1962),while triploid seeds originating from tetraploid ovaries require 24-380C for 24-72 h. Although, triploid watermelon shares good market potential, but maindrawbacks in low production are less seed vigour, poor germination, longhypocotyl, slow growth, non-uniformity, small sized embryo relative to seedcoat and high seed cost. Watermelon growers face various problem inobtaining good seed germination. Hence, there is need to explore moreefficient and reliable method to enhance seed germination rate and seedling

establishment as normal germination methods are no longer have good resultsespecially in tetraploids and triploids.

The experiment was conducted to test and improve the seed germination ofwatermelon of different ploidy level using hydropriming method. Seed primingis a treatment to start germination process by partially hydrating seeds butradicle emergence does not occur. Short time hydration and hydropriming,humidification (incubation at high relative humidity) have been widely used toincrease seed vigour and longevity and had promoted germination rate inmany crops including cucurbits crops (Burgass and Powell, 1984; Bradford etal., 1988; Demir and Vande Venter, 1999; Powell, 2000; Huang et al., 2002).

The mature dry (orthodox) seed will exhibit a triphasic pattern of water uptakewhen given optimal supply of water (Bewely and Black, 1978). Phase Iconsists of water uptake that is largely a consequence of matric forces, whilein phase II (Lag phase) water potential of seed is in balance with thesurrounding environment and major metabolic changes prepare the embryo ofthe seed for subsequent emergence through seed coat. Only germinatingseeds are capable of entering phase III, which occurs as a consequence ofradicle emergence and elongation. Nonviable seed may exhibit phase I and IIbut not III (Bray, 1995).

The seeds of five diploids watermelon cultivars (WC-8C-2C, WD-2-6K, GW11,GW7), three triploids cultivars (04WM277 , 11WM495, AWX1105) four T1tetraploid lines (4092012-2IH, 3032012-1SA, 2052012-2IH, 1142012-1SA)were subjected to hydropriming testing at Watermelon Experiment Station,Daesan, Gochang , South Korea, during the year 2012. Hydroprimed seedswere carefully placed horizontally at 1 cm depth to prevent any orientationadvantages. The boxes were covered with plastic lids to control evaporationand placed in germination chamber at 300C. Tetraploids found to begerminated better in both sand and CSM. Cultivars 4012012-2IH, GW7, andAVX1105 showed more than 90% germination rate in CSM. The radicle length

was observed highest in 11WM495 (7.3 cm), 4012012-2IH (6.1 cm) and GW7(6.7 cm) in CSM.

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The findings of this experiment revealed that seed treatment with H2O2 andhydropriming on CSM at 300C has improved seed percentage to more than

90% in tetraploid and triploid seeds in contrast to normal sowing methods. Theindustrial use of this method could be easily followed on large scale forproducing good percentage and uniform sized tetraploids and triploidsseedlings for farmers use.

Contributed by sameena [email protected]


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1.26 Newly found genes may lead to nematode-resistant upland cotton

Washington, DC, USAJuly 26, 2012

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers have made significantprogress in finding genetic resistance to two key cotton peststhe root-knotnematode and the reniform nematode.

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) plant geneticist Johnie Jenkins and hiscolleagues in the agency's Genetics and Precision Agriculture Research Unitin Mississippi State, Miss., developed genetic markers for the genesresponsible for resistance to root-knot nematode in upland cotton. Thesegenes, located on chromosomes 11 and 14, should help breeders developnew varieties of nematode-resistant cotton.

ARS is the USDA's principal intramural scientific research agency, and thisresearch supports the USDA commitment to agricultural sustainability.

Jenkins and his colleagues also found that resistance to reniform nematode in

a wild Gossypium barbadense line is governed by more than one gene, andthey have identified markers linked to these genes on chromosomes 21 and18. Their research was published in Theoretical and Applied Genetics. Formerpost-doctoral researcher Osman Gutierrez (currently a plant geneticist at theARS Subtropical Horticulture Research Station in Miami, Fla.), was lead authoron the paper. Co-authors included agronomist Jack McCarty, moleculargeneticist Martin Wubben, and plant physiologist Franklin Callahan, all withARS at Mississippi State, and retired ARS scientist Forest Robinson at CollegeStation, Texas.

Commercial breeders had steered away from efforts to breed root-knot

nematode resistance into upland cotton lines over the years because theresistance was governed by more than one gene and seemed too costly and
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

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time-consuming. But the research contributions from Jenkins and hiscolleagues may change that.

The root-knot nematode has been recognized as a cotton pest for the past 100years, according to Jenkins. Since the 1930s, scientists have been looking forresistance to nematodes. In the 1960s, ARS started research to find root-knotnematode resistance in cotton. Retired ARS scientist Raymond Shepherd wasinstrumental in using root-knot nematode resistance in a line of wild cottonfrom Mexico to develop resistant germplasm.

Read more about this research in the July 2012 issue of Agricultural Researchmagazine.

http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=28631&id_region

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1.27 Tannins in sorghum are focus of study by Kansas State Universityand USDA researchers

Genetic research a step toward improved health, pharmaceutical, andnutritional values of plants

Manhattan, Kansas, USAJuly 11, 2012

They might be called a blessing or a curse tannins, which are present incertain sorghums, contain health-promoting antioxidant properties, but alsoprovide a bitter taste and decreased protein digestibility. To better understandtannins, their role in sorghum and how they can be altered to improve

sorghums use as food and feed, a team of scientists led by Kansas StateUniversity and U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers, has cloned thetannin gene in sorghum.

Tannins high antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and UV-protective functionspromote human health, plus recent studies show they can be a tool in fightingobesity because they reduce digestibility, said Jianming Yu, associateprofessor of agronomy at K-State. Tannins in sorghum also provide a naturalchemical defense against bird predation and bacterial and fungal attack in thefield.

On the other hand, tannins provide a bitter taste to some foods and decreaseprotein digestibility and feed efficiency in humans and livestock.

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The team was led by Yu, along with Tesfaye Tesso, K-State sorghum breederand associate professor of agronomy and Scott Bean, scientist with the U.S.

Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) andadjunct faculty in K-States Department of Agronomy.

The researchers study, Presence of tannins in sorghum grains is conditionedby different natural alleles of Tannin1(http://www.pnas.org/content/109/26/10281.abstract) was published in theJune 26 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of theUnited States of America (PNAS).

Sorghum is an old-world cereal grass that serves as a dietary staple for morethan 500 million people in more than 30 countries, Yu said. In 2011, the United

States was the No. 1 exporter of sorghum on the world market and the No. 2producer (behind Nigeria), according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In2011, Kansas produced 110.0 million bushels 51 percent of the total U.S.crop. Sorghum production in the U.S., primarily for the feed industry, uses non-tannin sorghum hybrids.

Unlike many plants which employ C3 photosynthesis that uses water, carbondioxide and solar energy to synthesize sugars, sorghum, which performs amodified form called C4 photosynthesis, has adapted to hot environments.

One key reason to study tannins is to untangle their relationship with coldtolerance, a key agronomic trait to improve sorghum. The work is ongoing,said sorghum breeder Tesso. An earlier screening work found that a highproportion of cold tolerant sorghum lines contain tannins.

Several other factors make tannins an important research subject, said Bean,noting their antioxidant capacity and relevant health benefits, their naturaloccurrence in some cereal crops, and their role in sorghum production.Knowledge of tannins in biosynthesis pathways can be used to generate linesthat produce high-content tannins in sorghum and other cereals to promotehealth through their unique nutritional properties.

This study, like many studies in recent years, benefits from work done severalyears ago on Arabidopsis, which are small flowering plants related to cabbageand mustard, said Yuye Wu, the first author and K-State research associate ofagronomy. Many genes have been identified in Arabidopsis, through themutational approach, but there is still much to be learned about the geneticcontrol of tannins in cereal crops.

This kind of genetic research in crops, coupled with nutritional and medicalresearch, could open the possibility of producing different levels andcombinations of phenolic compounds to promote human health, Yu said.

What the researchers learn about tannins in sorghum will be beneficial to the

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future study of tannins in other plants, including some fruits, vegetables and afew other grains such as finger millets and barley.

Other researchers involved in the study were Mitch Tuinstra, PurdueUniversity; Ming Li Wang, USDA-ARS, Griffin, Georgia; and Guihua Bai,USDA-ARS and adjunct professor of agronomy at KSU.

The project was supported by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture,Department of Energy Plant Feedstock Genomics Program, National ScienceFoundation Plant Genome Research Program, USDA Agricultural ResearchService, and the National Sorghum Checkoff program.




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1.28 En busca de genes de Lotus que toleren la salinidad

ArgentinaJuly 2012

Cientficos argentinos caracterizaron a escala molecular especies forrajerascon buen comportamiento al estrs salino. Este avance permitir elevar elpotencial productivo.

CompartirCientficos del INTA y la Universidad Nacional del Noroeste deBuenos Aires (Unnoba) caracterizaron a escala molecular a la especieforrajera Lotus tenuis por su buen comportamiento al estrs salino. Estedescubrimiento permitir elevar el potencial productivo, aumentar elrendimiento y mejorar la calidad del cultivo.

El Lotus es importante para la ganadera en la Pampa Hmeda. Este estudiocontribuir a seleccionar cultivares superiores con mayor tolerancia asalinidad, con ms forraje de calidad y con un alto nivel de productividad deesos ambientes, an en condiciones de estrs, destac la investigadoraprincipal del trabajo, Mariela Acua, del INTA PergaminoBuenos Aires.

El estudio consisti en caracterizar, por primera vez, el conjunto de genes delLotus tenuisque se destaca por su alto nivel de productividad, calidadnutritiva y persistencia a partir de la transferencia y la adaptacin de unprotocolo utilizado para estudiar otras especies (como la L. japonicus y L.

corniculatus).

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El 75 por ciento del pas est formado por reas ridas y semiridas quesuelen presentar un alto nivel de salinidad lo que ocasiona que las plantaspierdan fertilidad, ya que no pueden abastecerse de agua.

Lotus tenuis se destaca por su alto nivel de productividad, calidad nutritiva ypersistencia.

Por el contrario, en las ltimas dcadas el alto nivel de sales en los suelostambin afect extensas reas agrcolas y ganaderas de la regin hmeda ysubhmeda como consecuencia de periodos de lluvias excesivas queprovocaron anegamiento.Durante la investigacin se utilizaron marcadores moleculares para estudiar ladiversidad gentica, realizar selecciones eficientes de caracteres especficos ycaracterizar las poblaciones de las especies. A partir de secuencias de ADN

pudieron estudiar, a escala molecular, las diferencias entre las especies deLotus y evaluar los comportamientos contrastantesen tolerancia o ensusceptibilidad frente a la salinidad.

Por otra parte, esta investigacin fue reconocida por la Fundacin SamuelRoberts Noble con una ayuda econmica que le permiti al primer autor de lainvestigacin asistir al Sptimo Simposio de Mejoramiento Molecular deForrajes y Cspedes (MBFT, por sus siglas en ingls), realizado en la ciudadestadounidense de Salt Lake.

A su vez, Acua destac que este tipo de reconocimiento reivindica nuestrotrabajo en el campo ya que all realizamos estudios exhaustivos decaracterizacin que otras organizaciones trabajan ntegramente en unlaboratorio.

En las ltimas dcadas, el INTA obtuvo ms de 60 cultivares de 28 especiesconsideradas como las ms exitosas en el mercado nacional de semillasforrajeras dentro de las cuales se destacan las del gnero de Lotus por tenermayor longevidad, incluso en reas y suelos desfavorables.

http://www.seedquest.com/news.php?type=news&id_article=28337&id_region

=&id_category=&id_crop=



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1.29 Study reveals good news about the glycemic index of rice

Australia

July 9, 2012

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Research analysing 235 types of rice from around the world has found itsglycemic index (GI) varies from one type of rice to another with most varietiesscoring a low to medium GI.

This finding is good news because it not only means rice can be part of ahealthy diet for the average consumer, it also means people with diabetes, orat risk of diabetes, can select the right rice to help maintain a healthy, low GIdiet.

The study found that the GI of rice ranges from a low of 48 to a high of 92, withan average of 64, and that the GI of rice depends on the type of riceconsumed.

The research team from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and

CSIROs Food Futures Flagship also identified the key gene that determinesthe GI of rice, an important achievement that offers rice breeders theopportunity to develop varieties with different GI levels to meet consumerneeds. Future development of low GI rice would also enable foodmanufactures to develop new, low GI food products based on rice.

Dr Melissa Fitzgerald, who led the IRRI team, said GI is a measure of therelative ability of carbohydrates in foods to raise blood sugar levels aftereating.

Understanding that different types of rice have different GI values allows riceconsumers to make informed choices about the sort of rice they want to eat,she said.

Rice varieties like Indias most widely grown rice variety, Swarna, have a lowGI and varieties like Doongara and Basmati from Australia have a medium GI.

Dr Tony Bird, CSIRO Food Futures Flagship researcher, said that low GI dietsoffer a range of health benefits.

Low GI diets can reduce the likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes, and are

also useful for helping diabetics better manage their condition, he said.

This is good news for diabetics and people at risk of diabetes who are tryingto control their condition through diet, as it means they can select the right riceto help maintain a healthy, low GI diet.

Low GI foods are those measured 55 and less, medium GI are thosemeasured between 56 and 69, while high GI measures 70 and above.

When food is measured to have a high GI, it means it is easily digested andabsorbed by the body, which often results in fluctuations in blood sugar levels

that can increase chances of getting diabetes, and make management of Type2 diabetes difficult.

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Conversely, foods with low GI are those that have slow digestion andabsorption rates in the body, causing a gradual and sustained release of sugar

into the blood, which has been proven beneficial to health, including reducingthe chances of developing diabetes.



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1.30 Salt-tolerant chickpea project to boost crop production

Western AustraliaJuly 9, 2012

Researchers at The University of Western Australia, in collaboration withresearch partners overseas, have identified which lines of chickpea growbetter in moderately salty soil.

Winthrop Professor Timothy Colmer, from UWAs School of Plant Biology andUWAs Institute of Agriculture, said the project involved researchers from theUniversity of Sussex in the United Kingdom, the International Crops ResearchInstitute for the Semi-Arid Tropics in India and the Centre for Legumes inMediterranean Agriculture at UWA.

The project was funded by the Australian Research Council through itsLinkage Project scheme and the industry partner was Council of GrainGrowers Organisation.Soil salinity impedes crop production in many parts of the world, includinglarge areas of farming land in Australia and India, Professor Colmer said.

Chickpea is a salt-sensitive crop species, so improvement in its salt toleranceis a priority. The present research has highlighted that a previously widely-grown cultivar in WA (Rupa

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