Abiotic Stresses Tolerance and Nutrients Contents in Groundnut, Pearl Millet and Sorghum Mini Core Collections for Food and Nutrition Security

Food and nutrition security still require new sources of tolerance to major abiotic stresses and high nutritional quality. Groundnut, pearl millet and sorghum mini core collections are representing diversity of global collections but few studies investigated the nutrients contents and the tolerance to low phosphorus (LP) and drought stress (WS). Under lysimetre and pots conditions, subsets of these mini core collections were used to assess genotypic variation in nutrients contents and identify new sources of tolerance to WS and LP. In a randomized completely block design with 5 replications, water regimes and phosphorus treatments were imposed. Agromorphological and nutrients contents parameters were investigated. ANOVA were performed to assess the genotype and treatments effects. WS decreased the transpiration efficiency (47%), yield and its components (68%) in groundnut. Combined WS-LP reduced pods weight (83%). ICG3312, ICG81, ICG13395 and ICG467 revealed tolerant to WS/LP. In Pearl millet, LP decreased 100 seeds weight (14%), panicle and shoot biomass weight (25%), the booting date delayed except on IP1060, IP5869, IP9000, IP17532 and IP17775. WS-LP decreased total biomass (35%) while LP reduced total N(4.5%), P(20%), K(23%), Fe(25%) and Zn(3%). IP17532, IP 5153 and IP 5581 revealed highest Fe content (524mgkg-1). In sorghum, LP delayed the booting date, decreased biomass (32%) and WS-LP reduced biomass (74%). ISS2151, ISS705 and ISS862 revealed tolerant to WS-LP. LP decreased total N(11%), P(32%), K(13%), Fe(13%) and Zn(11%). IS1412, IS311 and IS376 showed high Fe content (515mgKg-1). Selected genotypes and traits might be useful in crops improvement for more adaptation and productivity

Strengthening conservation and utilization of ground-nut (Arachis hypogaea L.) genetic resources in West Africa

This paper describes the status of ground-nut (Arachis hypogaea L.) genetic resources conservation and utilization in West Africa. A proportion of ground-nut accessions conserved in the ICRISAT gene bank in Patancheru, India, were duplicated at ICRISAT, Niamey, Niger, to provide ready access to a greater range of diversity for crop improvement scientists. With support from the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), 6000 accessions from 73 countries were assembled, representing the major botanic types and maturity groups. These accessions were characterized and evaluated for desirable traits at selected locations in West Africa, India and Malawi. The accessions were screened for their reaction to important diseases, including rust, early and late leaf spots, ground-nut rosette virus and aflatoxin contamination. In the collection, 166 accessions show resistance to rust, 80 to late leaf spot, 30 to early leaf spot, 150 to ground-nut rosette disease and 74 to Aspergillus flavus invasion and aflatoxin contamination. The germplasm has been documented in printed catalogues, digitally on CD-ROMs and posted on the Web. Procedures for the distribution and exchange of germplasm were developed and 6371 samples were distributed to users. With support from the World Bank, an additional room was constructed at the gene bank at Niamey to accommodate 13 deep freezers to conserve the entire global ground-nut germplasm and other species, especially pearl millet

Early adoption of modern groundnut varieties in West Africa Working Paper Series No. 24 Socio Economic and Policy

This study investigates the early adoption of modern groundnut varieties in the pilot sites of the Groundnut Seed Project (GSP) in Mali, Niger and Nigeria following government and donors’ investment. Seventeen varieties were disseminated in the pilot sites of the three countries. Uptake has increased significantly during the last three years partially as a result of project intervention. The proportion of area planted with modern varieties has increased by 22% in Nigeria, 12% in Mali and 10% in Niger in the pilot sites since 2003. Farmers using modern varieties have derived significant yield gains of 24%, 43% and 31% over the local varieties in Mali, Niger and Nigeria respectively. The modern varieties had significantly lower per unit cost of production estimated to 9.8%, 11% and 11% in Mali, Niger and Nigeria respectively. The net income derived by adopters is 66% higher than non-adopters in Mali, 73% in Niger and 111% in Nigeria. Relative to household types, income gains are estimated to be less than 20% compared to poor households in Mali, while it is more than 50% in Nigeria. Results from the Logit models indicate that the major determinants of adoption in the three countries include the participation of farmers to on-farm trials, the build up of social capital through the empowerment of farmers’ associations and small-scale farmers at producing and marketing seed. Constraints to adoption remain the poor access and availability of seed of modern varieties, pest and disease pressure in at least two out of three countries. Tobit results indicate that intensification of modern varieties is dependent essentially on seed availability, social capital, exposure to the varieties through farmers’ participatory variety trials

Revitalization of groundnut production in West and Central Africa: partnership between ICRISAT, the CFC, FAO, NARS and CIRAD.

This paper covers germplasm assembly, maintenance and conservation; evaluation and diffusion of selected germplasm and improved groundnut cultivars; foundation seed multiplication, strengthening national research and development capacity and groundnut technology dissemination as part of the revitalization of groundnut production in West and Central Africa