Performance of dual-purpose pearl millet genotypes in West Africa: Importance of morphology and phenology

Pearl millet ( Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) is a cereal crop vital for food security in West and Central Africa. Its byproducts also serve as fodder for livestock, especially during dry seasons. The objective of this study was to evaluate selected genotypes from West African pearl millet breeding programmes, for dual-purpose (grain and fodder) and elucidate prospects for future breeding. A total of 83 open-pollinated varieties (OPVs), five composites, six landraces, one synthetic and five hybrids were evaluated at 14 environments in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Senegal during the rainy seasons of 2015 and 2016. Combined analysis of data revealed significant differences among genotypes and prevalence of high genotype-by-environment interaction effects. Two stability analyses models consistently indicated that genotypes 10 (SMILBF10), 14 (SMILBF14) and 39 (SMILML5) were widely adaptable across the region. Plant height, panicle length and panicle yield showed significant positive correlations with grain yield; while days to flowering was negatively correlated. Positive correlation between grain and fodder yields indicate possibility for simultaneous improvement involving the two important traits. This result suggests that germplasm exchange and regionally integrated breeding programmes are important for the identification of widely adapted dual-purpose varieties of pearl millet, particularly in West African drylands.Le mil\ua0\ue0\ua0chandelle ( Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) Est une c\ue9r\ue9ale vitale pour la s\ue9curit\ue9 alimentaire en Afrique de l\u2019Ouest et centrale. Ses sous-produits servent \ue9galement de fourrage pour le b\ue9tail, en particulier pendant les saisons s\ue8ches. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019\ue9valuer des g\ue9notypes s\ue9lectionn\ue9s \ue0 partir des programmes de s\ue9lection du mil\ua0\ue0\ua0chandelle d\u2019Afrique de l\u2019Ouest, pour l\u2018 usage double (c\ue9r\ue9ales et fourrage) et d\u2019\ue9lucider les perspectives de s\ue9lection dans le future. Les 83 vari\ue9t\ue9s \ue0 pollinisation libre (OPV), cinq composites, six vari\ue9t\ue9s locales, une synth\ue9tique et cinq hybrides ont \ue9t\ue9 \ue9valu\ue9s dans les 14 environnements au Burkina Faso, au Mali, au Niger et au S\ue9n\ue9gal pendant les saisons des pluies de 2015 et 2016. L\u2018 analyse combin\ue9e des donn\ue9es ont r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 des diff\ue9rences significatives entre les g\ue9notypes et la pr\ue9valence des effets \ue9lev\ue9s d\u2019interaction g\ue9notype-par-environnement. Deux mod\ue8les d\u2019analyses de stabilit\ue9 ont syst\ue9matiquement indiqu\ue9 que les g\ue9notypes 10 (SMILBF10), 14 (SMILBF14) et 39 (SMILML5) \ue9taient largement adaptables dans toute la r\ue9gion. La hauteur de la plante, la longueur de la panicule et le rendement de la panicule ont montr\ue9 des corr\ue9lations positives significatives avec le rendement en grains; tandis que les jours avant la floraison \ue9taient corr\ue9l\ue9s n\ue9gativement. Une corr\ue9lation positive entre les rendements en c\ue9r\ue9ales et en fourrage indique la possibilit\ue9 d\u2019une am\ue9lioration simultan\ue9e impliquant les deux caract\ue8res importants. Ce r\ue9sultat sugg\ue8re que l\u2019\ue9change de mat\ue9riel g\ue9n\ue9tique et les programmes de s\ue9lection int\ue9gr\ue9s au niveau r\ue9gional sont importants pour l\u2019identification de vari\ue9t\ue9s \ue0 l\u2018 usage double largement adapt\ue9es de mil \ue0 chandelle, en particulier dans les zones arides d\u2019Afrique de l\u2019Ouest

The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator: development and validation of a tool for identifying African surgical patients at risk of severe postoperative complications

Background: The African Surgical Outcomes Study (ASOS) showed that surgical patients in Africa have a mortality twice the global average. Existing risk assessment tools are not valid for use in this population because the pattern of risk for poor outcomes differs from high-income countries. The objective of this study was to derive and validate a simple, preoperative risk stratification tool to identify African surgical patients at risk for in-hospital postoperative mortality and severe complications. Methods: ASOS was a 7-day prospective cohort study of adult patients undergoing surgery in Africa. The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator was constructed with a multivariable logistic regression model for the outcome of in-hospital mortality and severe postoperative complications. The following preoperative risk factors were entered into the model; age, sex, smoking status, ASA physical status, preoperative chronic comorbid conditions, indication for surgery, urgency, severity, and type of surgery. Results: The model was derived from 8799 patients from 168 African hospitals. The composite outcome of severe postoperative complications and death occurred in 423/8799 (4.8%) patients. The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator includes the following risk factors: age, ASA physical status, indication for surgery, urgency, severity, and type of surgery. The model showed good discrimination with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.805 and good calibration with c-statistic corrected for optimism of 0.784. Conclusions: This simple preoperative risk calculator could be used to identify high-risk surgical patients in African hospitals and facilitate increased postoperative surveillance. © 2018 British Journal of Anaesthesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Medical Research Council of South Africa gran