BREEDING IMPROVED CROP VARIETIES FOR ADAPTATION:

EFFORTS AND BREAKTHROUGHS IN NIGERIA.

PRESENTATION BY AF23 PROJECT

Chinyere Adeyemi

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

INTRODUCTION

• Under-nutrition, that is inadequate calorie and protein intake, has been the major concern of medical specialists, nutritionists, agriculturists, and demographers, both at local and international levels in Nigeria.

• One way of solving the problem of under-nutrition is the development and distribution of high yielding and well adapted seeds to farmers.

Introduction continues

• Researchers in Nigeria have been challenged to produce very high-yielding varieties of crops with high nutritive values, resistant to diseases,pests and all sorts of environmental stresses and production hazards.

Objectives of this presentation

• To explore and highlight

1. The efforts of breeders in the improvement of crop varieties in Nigeria

2. The breakthroughs and successes achieved so far on some of the important crops.

3. The problems and hindrances to achieving breeding objectives in Nigeria

Breeding Agencies

Within Nigeria the following agencies and institutions are responsible for the development of improved seeds of grain crops:

• International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

• Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T)

Agencies continues

• National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI)

• West African Rice Development Authority (WARDA)

• Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI)

• Centre for Arid Studies ,University of Maiduguri

Agencies continues

• Agencies responsible for distribution of improved seeds include:

1. IAR&T

2. National Seed Services

3. Government Seed Production Company

4. State Agricultural Development Production

Crops of interest

The major crops of interest are:

• Maize

• Sorghum

• Millet

• Rice

• Beans, Cassava and Yam

Crop improvement

Crop improvement activities involve:

1 Identification of the pool of genetic variability within each crop

2. Identification of agronomic characteristics

3. Manipulation of useful agronomic characters to produce improved cultivars

Crop improvement contd

4. Field evaluation of the cultivars for further improvement

5. Production of improved seeds and release to the farmers.

Breeding scope

1. High yielding

2. Resistance to single/multiple diseases/pests.

3. Tolerance to acid soils, drought, low soil nutrient level

4. High nutrient and protein fortification

5. Various combinations of above

RESULTS:

A. Maize Releases

• ES, ES2, NS, NS5, Bulk3

• Dicol V153, Eafro231, Trinidad,

• H503, H507, TZB, TZPB, TZBR-Y,

• TZBR-W,

• NCBRbU, NCRbU

Maize Releases contd.

• FARZ-27 (TZPB)

• FARZ-34 (TZB)

• TZMSR-W

• DMRLSR-W

• DMRESR-Y

B Rice Releases

1 “DTPMFe+” with following properties

• Heavy tillering

• Long grains

• Earliness (90 – 110 days)

• Dwarfness

• Heavy panicle/high yielding

• Tolerance of low iron in the soil

Rice Releases cont.

2 “New Rice for Africa (NERICA) with following properties

• Weed competitiveness• Early maturity in 90 – 100 days• Drought tolerance• Resistance to gall midge• Resistance to rice yellow mottled virus (RYMV)• Resistance to blast disease

NERICA contd

• Taste, aroma and other grain qualities accepted by farmer

• Non-shattering grains

• Secondary branches on panicles (over 400 grains)

• Responsive to mineral fertilization

• Higher protein content

Other releases

• Rainfed uplandReaction

Varieties Duration in days

Yields (t/ha)

Iron deficiency

RYMV

FARO 43 120-130M 2.5-3.5 MR R

FARO 45 100-110E 2.0-3.0 R R

FARO 47 115-120M 2.0-3.0 R R

FARO 48 120-130M 2.5-3.5 R R

FARO 49 120-130M 2.5-3.5 MR MR

FARO 46 100-110E 2.5-3.5 MR MR

Other releases contdIrrigated lowland

Varieties Duration Yield(t/ha)

Iron Toxicity

RYMV

FARO35 120-135M 5-8.0 S MR

FARO36 120-135M 5-8.0 MR MR

FARO37 120-135M 5-8.0 MR MR

FARO50 120-130M 5-8.0 MR MR

FARO54 105-115E 5-8.0 MR MR

FARO51 125-135L 5-8.0 S MR

FARO52 120-130M 5-8.0 MR MR

Problems

Problems confronting breeding of improved crop varieties in Nigeria include:

• right technology• level of development of biotechnology in Nigeria• dearth of base-line information on potentials and

reproductive biology of crops and their wide relatives• lack of understanding of type, form of diseases and pests;

dearth of information on mode of gene action conditioning resistance and the modifying influence of the environment

• inadequate to complete lack of funds and infrastructure• unstable and unfavorable government policies

Recommendations

(1) There is urgent need for multidisciplinary approach from scientists ( breeders, geneticists, entomologist pathologists, biochemists, weed scientists, etc.) in national and international research programs to co-operate in the exchange of ideals and materials,

(2) There should be conscious efforts by all stakeholders to avoid and prevent the genetic erosion of Nigeria’s rich Biodiversity.

(3) More base-line studies on the wild relatives of the crops should be encouraged and funded.

(4) Regular training of professional breeders, biotechnologists, molecular biologists etc to face the greater challenges of the new millennium.

(5) Proper technological transfer to enhance breeding.

Conclusion.

Utilizing highly variable and diverse genotypes in Nigeria has enhanced the development of better performing adapted lines and varieties in Nigeria. This has boosted food production to meet the increasing demand. The procedure, although normally long-term, could be made more efficient and less time-consuming if funds are available and breeders work with other scientists in a multidisciplinary group within the breeding nursery. Presently, breeding efforts in Nigeria and the results so far achieved are commendable.