From ‘pearl’ of millet to ‘gold’ of desert: A popular hybrid emerges improved through genomics-assisted breeding
GHB 538, a popular pearl millet hybrid, was improved through genomics-assisted breeding. Named Maru Sona or desert gold, the revised hybrid has 82 % downy mildew resistance over the original hybrid. The improvement also resulted in an increase in grain (3.5%) and fodder (10.8%) yield, resistance to blast (28.6%) and rust (91.4%) diseases as well as grain protein content (12.5%) while maintaining GHB 538’s hallmark early flowering (44 days). Read more
Public and private sector scientists pick pearl millet material for their breeding programs
Public and private sector scientists visited 20,000 pearl millet breeding plots at ICRISAT this week to select material for their breeding programs. Read more...
Integrating research across countries in West and Central Africa to benefit farmers
Exploring ways to enhance integration and cooperation among scientists and across research projects to benefit farmers was the theme of the West Read more...