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Mutation Breeding for Resistance to Striga Parasitic Weeds in Cereals for Food Security
Closed for proposals
Project Type
Project Code
D25005CRP
2166Approved Date
Status
Start Date
Expected End Date
Completed Date
23 June 2021Participating Countries
Description
The parasitic weeds Striga asiatica and S. hermonthica are major biological constraints to cereal production in most of sub-Saharan Africa and semi-arid tropical regions of Asia. Yield losses are mainly in maize, millet, rice and sorghum and most severe on marginal lands of subsistence farmers. The unique biology of Striga, tightly adapted to its crop hosts, limits control options. Because subsistence farmers either cannot afford or do not have access to inputs, host plant resistance is a vital part of Striga control. Resistance traits, however, are lacking in most cereal varieties sown in Striga prone areas. This CRP proposes the use of physical mutagenesis and associated screening technologies to broaden the genetic base of resistance. The project seeks to link cereal improvement programs in the Member States with Striga biologists and IAEA staff. This would combine expertise in screen house and laboratory screening to enhance mutation breeding to timely develop or adapt screening packages to generate novel sources of Striga resistance. Initial focus will be on sorghum and rice because of their importance to food security and amenability to mutation breeding techniques. Up to ten research contracts are expected to be awarded and five no-cost agreement holders from advanced laboratories and research institutes with recognized expertise in the targeted technologies will be invited to share their experience with the contract holders and contribute to the development and validation of the planned technical packages. In addition, it is foreseen that two technical contracts will be awarded for services in advanced areas such as marker development and advanced efficiency enhancing technologies and mutant characterization. Coordination and technical management will be handled by the scientific secretary in the Plant Breeding and Genetics Laboratory/Section.
Objectives
To support generation of novel sources of variation, using mutation breeding, by developing efficient screening protocols for Striga resistance in cereals for building research capacity and improving food security in Member States.
Specific objectives
To develop, optimize, validate and disseminate robust screening protocols for mutant populations for resistance/tolerance to the parasitic weed Striga in major cereal crops.
To integrate and adapt efficiency enhancing techniques in the mutation breeding processes.
To generate genetic diversity to develop resistant/tolerant varieties to Striga infestation.
To improve capacity in efficient mutation breeding for resistance to parasitic weeds in cereals.
To develop, optimize, validate and disseminate robust screening protocols for mutant populations for resistance/tolerance to the parasitic weed Striga in major cereal crops.
To integrate and adapt efficiency enhancing techniques in the mutation breeding processes.
To generate genetic diversity to develop resistant/tolerant varieties to Striga infestation.
To improve capacity in efficient mutation breeding for resistance to parasitic weeds in cereals.
Impact
The CRP improved human capacity in mutation breeding and efficiency enhancing technologies in Striga affected members states, and the developed resistant mutant lines in the major cereals (sorghum, rice and maize) are expected to generate impact on sustainable production and food security particularly in the Striga affect countries in Africa. FAO estimates that annual crop loss due to Striga across Africa exceeds US $7 billion, impacting over 300 million people and up to 50 million hectares of crop land are infested with Striga. The developed Striga resistant varieties in the CRP will contribute significantly to reduce the loss due to the Striga across Africa and else where.
Relevance
The CRP is of typical relevance to the nuclear application for food and agriculture. The results generated are of relevance to integrated management of Striga parasitic weeds in cereals in affected countries mostly in Africa and part of Asia. Further more the outputs of the CRP are important in ensuring food security specially in the era of climate change as drought and consequently the effect of Striga is expected to expand and intensify. In addition, the advanced information and approach accumulated from CRP could be of relevance to scientific research related to plant-pathogen interactions.