Evaluation of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Landrace Populations Originating from Different Growing Regions in the Near East

This study characterizes barley (Hordcttm vulgare L.) garmplasm that evolved under continuous cultivation in highly drought-prone areas of the Near East. Landrace population:) originating from 70 locations in Syria and Jordan were evaluated under field conditions in Tel Hadia, Svria, on the basis of single head-row progeny performance. Significant genetic variation was found for all traits recorded: seed colour, kernel row number, growth habit, awn barbing, days to heading, culm length, leaf widths, awn length, early growth vigour, lodging score, and mildew resistance. For most traits, large proportions oi the total variation were tound between head progenies tvhh.in single populations. The qualitative traits, growth haba, seed colour, and awn barbing showed higher variation indices in populations originating from the drier regions ol Syria. Populanons from tbe drier regions; headed slightly earlier, had narrower leaves, longer eulms and tended to be more susceptible to lodging and mildew than populations originating in the higher rainfall areas in Syria. For all traits, the variance components resulting from differences among populations within a particular growing region, as well as those among populations from differences regions, were highly significant. This indicates that this germplasm stock contains materials with adaptability to these diverse growing conditions. The vanabili:y present within populations, as well 25 that among populations with similar adaptability, is sufficient to allow successful election for productivity-related trait

Exploiting heterosis in pearl millet for population breeding in arid environments

In the desert region of Rajasthan, India, farmers mainly grow pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] landraces. The adoption of modern cultivars is generally low because of their poor adaptation to extreme drought stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of six elite breeding populations and three landraces and to determine the heterotic pattern among the 36 diallel crosses of those populations. Field experiments were conducted in eight environments in India. Mean grain yields (GYs) in the three environments with favorable growing conditions were double to threefold those in the three arid environments. The elite populations generally showed higher GY than the landraces; stover yield (SY) was similar in both population types. The landraces flowered earlier, had a higher tillering potential, and smaller seeds. Mean level of midparent heterosis was generally low, ranging from 0.85% for time to flowering (TF) to 6.57% for SY. For GY, expression of heterosis for individual population crosses was between -14 and +30% under drought stress, and between -9 and +17% in the favorable environments. For SY, mean heterosis was always positive and higher than for GY. The elite x landrace population crosses with high mean GY and high levels of heterosis under drought stress could be beneficial to widen the germplasm base and to combine the high yield potential of elite materials with the good adaptation of the landraces

Plant breeding for nutrition-sensitive agriculture: an appraisal of developments in plant breeding

Plant breeding for nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA) has to address the various aspects of food and nutrition security by taking on an integrated approach. In our article, we summarize past and current developments in plant breeding that are relevant to nutrition in this broader context. We outline how plant breeding can contribute to availability of, access to and utilization of food, and give examples of how the concept of NSA is differently addressed in selected plant breeding projects. Effective targeting towards the needs of vulnerable groups seems to be a key success factor. Differences exist with regard to the underlying concept of technology diffusion, the importance given to agrobiodiversity for improving food and nutrition security, and the degree and quality of participation of target groups. We conclude that the potentials of crop and variety improvement for NSA are far from being tapped. Plant breeding for NSA requires that the inherent focus of most breeding programs on crops and varieties be broadened towards people and their needs. It is thus required to integrate complementary expertise into breeding programs, and to overcome the divide between technology-oriented and system or actor-oriented approaches. Furthermore, it should be acknowledged that commercial breeding needs to be complemented by other initiatives and institutions that focus particularly on food and nutrition security of vulnerable groups. Any efforts to further harmonize agricultural, nutrition, health, environmental, and educational policies, also with international policy frameworks and obligations, could help to create an enabling policy environment for NSA

Performance and Variability of Local Barley Landraces in Near-Eastern Environments

Homozygous lines from six Syrian and two Jordanian landrace populations were tested under highly productive growing conditions in Tel Hadia (1982/83), under drought stress in Breda (1983/84), and under dryland salinity stress in Hegla (1982/83/84) in Syria. Mean grain yield levels ranged between 260 kg/ha and 4850 kg/ha. Under drought and salinity stress, the majority of the landrace lines out-yielded the best cheeks significantly. In Tel Hadia the check cultivars mostly outyielded the landrace lines, but not always significantly. In all environments the harvest index of the landrace lines was near the optimum for barley. They expressed intermediate plant height and time to flowering, high lodging susceptibility under favorable growing conditions, high protein content, and a wide range of yield component combinations. In the stress environments highly significant genetic variation among the landrace lines was found. The heritabilities for gram yield were high in these trials. The correlations between performance under stress and under favorable growing conditions were poor. Therefore, the largest gains for variety improvement for the Syrian steppe area are expected from direct selection under stress conditions. Unique responses in proline accumulation and germination patterns in saline solution indicated specific adaptation in this material. These landraces, thus, are a useful source of breeding material, which also widens the genetic base of the present breeding program

Diagnostic Methods For Breeding Pearl Millet With Farmers In Rajasthan

The role of local farmers in ICRISAT's pearl millet improvement project for Rajasthan has changed: from unidentifiedsuppliers oflocalgermplasm to the base materialof a formal breeding program, to active collaborators in selection and variety development. On-farm trials, designed to expose farmers to a wide range of diversity for traits that the local landraces do not'possess, provided the starting point for this change in farmers' roles. Farmers' evalua tions of this new diversity have provided insight into theirpreferences for specific traits and their production objectives, thus allowing the breeding program to focus on improving traits of primay interest for farmers in the target region. Farmers from different regions, and farmers representing different socialgroups prefer different traits and place different emphasis on yield stability versus maximizing yield in favorable years. Interested farmers have selected among a widerrange of advanced experin~entavl arieties in onstation trials. Their selections reflect the needs of their conlmunities and production conditior)s. Farmers' traditional strategies for seed selection andpreservation vary among individuals willlin a village and across regions. Farn?ers are exploiting the variability generated by the natural outcrossing between the local landraces and the experitnental cultivars. An initial on-station evaluation of the effect of this selection indicates that farmers are selecting elfeclively for improved productivity

CSR and related terms in SME owner-managers' mental models in six European countries: national context matters

As a contribution to the emerging field of corporate social responsibility (CSR) cognition, this article reports on the findings of an exploratory study that compares SME owner–managers’ mental models with regard to CSR and related concepts across six European countries (Belgium, Italy, Norway, France, UK, Spain). Utilising Repertory Grid Technique, we found that the SME owner–managers’ mental models show a few commonalities as well as a number of differences across the different country samples. We interpret those differences by linking individual cognition to macro-environmental variables, such as language, national traditions and dissemination mechanisms. The results of our exploratory study show that nationality matters but that classifications of countries as found in the comparative capitalism literature do not exactly mirror national differences in CSR cognition and that these classifications need further differentiation. The findings from our study raise questions on the universality of cognition of academic management concepts and warn that promotion of responsible business practice should not rely on the use of unmediated US American management terminology

Assessing participatory processes and outcomes in agricultural research for development from participants' perspectives

To analyze the experiences of farmers involved in a participatory plant breeding project in West Africa, we develop a two-dimensional framework for evaluating the process and outcomes of participatory agricultural research for development projects. On one axis, we draw on existing typologies to describe the participatory process as consultative, collaborative, or collegial. On another axis, we theorize and test the outcomes of participation; specifically, whether the process achieves instrumental goals, is empowering for participants, or is manipulative toward participants. Qualitative interviews with farmers and technicians indicate a range of instrumental and empowering outcomes emerging from the participatory process, which support food security through access to seeds and a new ability to share information learned through the research process

A Role For Icrisat In Enhancing And Maintaining Genetic Resources On-Farm

CGIAR centers have made a major global contribution to ex situ conservation of crop genetic resources. Some centers have also made detailedsocio-anthropologicaIstudies ofmanda'te crops in traditional farmingsystems and, more recently, farmerparticipatory research is becoming part of crop irnprovementprograrns. Centers can expand these studies to develop strategies for on-farm conservation in close collaboration will) nalional agricultural research and extension systems, NGOs and farmers. A specific role for ICRISAT is firmly based on its locations in centers of crop diversity and traditional agriculture; its complement of experienced crop scientists and extensive databases; ils capacityto analyzegenetic, environmental, andgenotypexenvironmentinteractions as determinants of crop productivity; its close relalionships with netionalprograms; anditsgrowing involvement in farn~erparticipato ry research, The expertise and experience of lCt7lSA Tand other CGlAR centers can make a major contribution to the dynamic conservation, enhancement and utilization of agrobiodiversity on-farm for tl~bee nefits of farmers and global foodproduct/on

Thinking of me:Self-focus reduces sharing and helping in seven- to eight-year-olds

<div><p>By 7-to 8-years of age, most children readily adhere to prosocial norms aimed at benefiting others through giving up time and effort (helping) or resources (sharing). Two studies explored whether sharing and helping by 7-to 8-year olds (N = 180) could be influenced by priming children’s attention on themselves or their friends through a semi-structured interview. Results revealed that self-priming led to reductions in both sharing and helping compared to friendship-priming or a control condition. These findings are considered as indicative of the fragile state of prosocial behaviours at this age that can be easily shifted towards more selfish biases by simple priming.</p></div