breeding of indigenous plants for southern africa: domestication of marama bean percy chimwamurombe...

Breeding of indigenous plants for Southern Africa:

Domestication of Marama bean

Percy CHIMWAMUROMBEDEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Faculty of Science UNIVERSITY OF NAMIBIA

pchimwa@unam.na

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UNAMFaculty of Science

Outline of Presentation

1. Introduction to Marama bean.

2. Marama bean domestication/breeding program.

3. Setting up a domestication/breeding program

4. Summary of past and ongoing actions.

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Tylosema esculentum Marama bean (2n=44) :

Family Fabaceae, subfamily CaesalpinoidaeCreeping perennial non nodulating

legume (25-36m²)Edible seeds (3g) and large roots (25kg-100kg)Grows in the Kalahari sands regions (Namibia, RSA & Botswana)Grows well in low rainfall ( 50-500mm)Drought avoiding plantHigh protein, fatty acids and starch 4

5Marama bean life cycle

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Edible Marama bean seeds- 3g per seed

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Marama young roots (bulged)

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Marama large root, rich in edible and industrial starch10

Domestication: is the outcome of a selection process that leads to increased adaptation of plants and animals to cultivation or rearing and utilization by humans considering the positive or negative role of microorganisms

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microbesmicrobes

microbes

0

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40

60

80

100

a A

The Performance Gap in Agriculture

pgA

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Modern Crop Domestication and

Breeding: Southern Africa Context

Modern Crop Domestication and

Breeding: Southern Africa Context

Summary of the Projected impacts of Summary of the Projected impacts of climate change in Africaclimate change in Africa

1. By 2020, between 75 and 250 million people in Africa are projected to be exposed to increased water stress due to climate change.

2. By 2020, in some countries, yields from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50%. Agricultural production, including access to food, in many African countries is projected to be severely compromised. This would further adversely affect food security and exacerbate malnutrition.

3. Towards the end of the 21st century, projected sea level rise will affect low-lying coastal areas with large populations.

4. By 2080, an increase of 5 to 8% of arid and semi-arid land in Africa is projected under a range of climate scenarios.

5. The cost of adaptation could amount to at least 5 to 10% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 14

Source: Report. Summary for Policy Makers, IPCC, 2007

50 yr Climate Change projections

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Tylosema genus distribution

African Child Wellness StatisticsAfrican Child Wellness Statistics1. It has been estimated that every minute eight under-five children die in

sub-Saharan Africa.

2. Two thirds of the under-five deaths in the African Region are due to preventable causes. The chief causes of death are complicated by malnutrition that accounts for one third of all deaths in children under five years.

3. Food insecurity in Africa threatens the lives of millions of vulnerable people.

4. Under nutrition is directly or indirectly responsible for 3.5 million child death every year.

5. Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the highest prevalence of low birth weight ranging from 7-42%.

6. Although the degree to which indirect determinants of death are expressed varies between countries, malnutrition is a critical risk factor in most countries, and nutrition and food security remains a fundamental challenge to child survival.

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Source: Report. WHO Regional Office for Africa, 2012

What are the Southern African What are the Southern African regional common issues?regional common issues?

• Food production-Climate change effects

• Health issues

• Nutritional issues (child protein deficiencies)

• Jobs (and jobs creation)

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Modern Crop Domestication Modern Crop Domestication 1. An open-minded approach is required, even hearing brutal non conventional

ideas.

2. Prioritize participatory approaches until better empowerment tools come.

3. Mixing past practices and new styles in domestication- learning from the current and past experiences invoking new ways.

4. Consider the current, past nutritional trends (e.g. most people nowadays remove chicken skins, running away from fats, this is a new trend. It was not like this 30 years ago). Now is a there is need to breed for lean chicken!

5. Consider climate change effects.

6. New mindset: develop indigenous crops (just looks at what Africa eats today, and ask how much of that is native to Africa, only 3-4 crops only, there rest of them are invasives, for lack of better word).

7. This is time to develop local crops that resilient and adapted to local environments for millennia, may be we can combat climate change effects.

8. In many fora where health issues of Africa are discussed one always hear that people should start eating traditional foods to avoid exposure to modern/western/eastern foods which their physiology is not genetically adapted to. Whether true or false, real of perception, these voices need to be listened and something must be done, lest the future generations will not have kind words to us.

NOTE

1. Time is limited.

2. So be fast, move away from BUSINESS AS-USUAL (BAU) domestication approaches.

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vCentral Goal:

Domestication of Marama bean

vCentral goal: domestication of Marama bean

1.Basic Plant Biology

vCentral goal: domestication of Marama bean

1.Basic Plant Biology

2. Crop breeding

vCentral goal: domestication of Marama bean

1.Basic Plant Biology

2. Crop breeding

3. Crop protection

vCentral goal: domestication of Marama bean

1.Basic Plant Biology

2. Crop breeding

3. Crop protection 4. Product development

vCentral goal: domestication of Marama bean

1.Basic Plant Biology

2. Crop breeding

3. Crop protection 4. Product development

5. Agronomy

vCentral goal: domestication of Marama bean

1.Basic Plant Biology

2. Crop breeding

3. Crop protection 4. Product development

5. Agronomy

6. Product piloting

vCentral goal: domestication of Marama bean

1.Basic Plant Biology

2. Crop breeding

3. Crop protection 4. Product development

5. Agronomy

6. Product piloting7. Microbiology& Entomology

vCentral goal: domestication of Marama bean

1.Basic Plant Biology

2. Crop breeding

3. Crop protection 4. Product development

5. Agronomy

6. Product piloting7. Microbiology& Entomology

8. Conservation Genetics

vCentral goal: domestication of Marama bean

1.Basic Plant Biology

2. Crop breeding

3. Crop protection 4. Product development

5. Agronomy

6. Product piloting7. Microbiology& Entomology

8. Conservation Genetics

9. Omics and gene discovery

v

10.Participatory production

Central goal: domestication of Marama bean

1.Basic Plant Biology

2. Crop breeding

3. Crop protection 4. Product development

5. Agronomy

6. Product piloting7. Microbiology& Entomology

8. Conservation Genetics

9. Omics and gene discovery

v

10.Participatory production

Central goal: domestication of Marama bean

1.Basic Plant Biology

2. Crop breeding

3. Crop protection 4. Product development

5. Agronomy

6. Product piloting7. Microbiology& Entomology

8. Conservation Genetics

9. Omics and gene discovery

11. Participatory product piloting

v

10.Participatory production

Central goal: domestication of Marama bean

1.Basic Plant Biology

2. Crop breeding

3. Crop protection 4. Product development

5. Agronomy

6. Product piloting7. Microbiology& Entomology

8. Conservation Genetics

9. Omics and gene discovery

11. Participatory product piloting12. Bio-fertlisers

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10.Participatory production

Central goal: domestication of Marama bean

1.Basic Plant Biology

2. Crop breeding

3. Crop protection 4. Product development

5. Agronomy

6. Product piloting7. Microbiology& Entomology

8. Conservation Genetics

9. Omics and gene discovery

11. Participatory product piloting12. Bio-fertlisers

13.More gene discovery

v

10.Participatory production

Central goal: domestication of Marama bean

1.Basic Plant Biology

2. Crop breeding

3. Crop protection 4. Product development

5. Agronomy

6. Product piloting7. Microbiology& Entomology

8. Conservation Genetics

9. Omics and gene discovery

11. Participatory product piloting12. Bio-fertlisers

13.More gene discovery 14. Commercial scales of production

v

10.Participatory production

Central goal: domestication of Marama bean

1.Basic Plant Biology

2. Crop breeding

3. Crop protection 4. Product development

5. Agronomy

6. Product piloting7. Microbiology& Entomology

8. Conservation Genetics

9. Omics and gene discovery

11. Participatory product piloting12. Bio-fertlisers

13.More gene discovery 14. Commercial scales of production

15. Commercial scales for byproducts

v

10.Participatory production

Central goal: domestication of Marama bean

1.Basic Plant Biology

2. Crop breeding

3. Crop protection 4. Product development

5. Agronomy

6. Product piloting7. Microbiology& Entomology

8. Conservation Genetics

9. Omics and gene discovery

11. Participatory product piloting12. Bio-fertlisers

13.More gene discovery 14. Commercial scales of production

15. Commercial scales for byproducts16. Future perspectives

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Building capacity on crop diversification in light of climate change:

A broad skills training vehicle.

Initial Research Questions• Is there variability between- and in marama populations?• Are there any superior genotypes in the environment? • Can molecular genetic tools be used to identify and selected

such?• Can phenotypic tools be used for selection? • Is it possible to increase the yield of marama?• Do bacteria play a role in enhancing marama nutrient

acquisition? • Is it possible to prescribe best growing areas and cultural

practices?• Does marama have other uses besides food and feed: ITK

uses?• Is marama bean acceptable and viable as a commercial

crop- locally, regionally and internationally?38

T. esculentumT. humifusumT. argenteumT. angolenseT. fassoglense

MaramaDistribution Map

Using SSRs, We have found low inter-population genetic diversity and high intra-population variability in marama subpopulation

The similarities for each cluster were between 75-92%, which is high, indicating low genetic variability.

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Genotype variations

The case for domestication in sA

• Most of the Kalahari concept is in sA, semi desert to desert

• High value nutrition (Protein, FAs, Starch)• Low seed production (1-2) seeds/pod) remains a

challenge that can be dealt with plant breeding• Disappearing accessions is another concern• Malnutrition high in Southern African can be

addressed by supplemented the protein with local marama

• Selection of superior accessions important and is on going

• Can be grown on land considered to be waste land41

Rainfall Map of Namibia

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Value addition: development of Marama prototype

products• Namibia, South Africa, Botswana

– Roasted marama bean nuts– Green marama– Full fat and defatted marama bean flours

with various confectionery uses– Marama-sorghum composite meals to be

used for preparation of porridge– Marama milk– Marama oil

CosmeticsPharmeuticsStarch 45

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Marama amylose (35.74%)Cassava amylose (18 -28%,) Sweet potato amylose (28%),

Isolation and characterization of the starch of marama bean young roots in terms of its physical &

chemical and pasting properties.

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1. Isolation and molecular characterization of marama starch biosynthetic genes

(SSSI, AGPase & SBEs).

2. Physicochemical and functional properties of native marama starch finalized. Better

properties than most root starches

3. Isolation of serine protease inhibitor gene for marama48

Marama AGPL

Phaseolus vulgaris

Glycine max

Medicago truncatula

Pisium sativum

Lens culinaris

Cicer arietinum

Solanum lycopercium

Solanum tuberosum

Arabidopsis thaliana

Sorghum bicolor

Zea mays

Brachypodium distachyon

Escherichia coli

Clu

ster II C

luster I

II

I

Comparison of total seed protein content

Legume % Protein content

Soybean ( some varieties) 38

Marama 32

Lupine 31

Lens 24

Pea 23

Broad bean 23

Phaseolus 2249

Germplasm Conservation

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1. 450 accessions have been collected

2. Community centred in-situ germplasm conservation

3. Phenotypic selection of desirable characteristics

Pollination by bumbble bee 51Marama bean is an obligate outcrosser

Germination characteristics

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Inter-nodal lengths

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Gamma irradiation increase germination rates

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On-Farm Cultivation Trials in Namibia

• One farm in Okakarara

• 4 farms in Epukiro

• 2 farms in Vaasdraai

• 90kg-200kg/ha (1.2-2 tonnes/ha potential)

• Planned 12 farms in Omaheke region with NEPAD/SANBIO support

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Marama farm preparation

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Shortening the Reproductive Life cycle

• One of the priorities is to shorten the life cycle. We hypothesize that marama appears to grow slowly because in its natural environment moisture and fertility is restrictive.

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Pending & Current Activities1. Molecular Breeding

1. Genotype identification- molecular makers2. Crosses3. Genetic maps4. Selections5. Mutation breeding

2. Field trials1. Cultivar trials2. Plant-water relationships3. Yields evaluations4. Seed quality evaluations (populations and individuals)

3. Molecular Studies1. Libraries2. Gene discoveries

4.Plant-Microbe interactions5. QTLs and Drought avoidance6. Heat Stress tolerance

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Bacteria in the rhizosphere of Tylosema esculentum (Marama bean): Possible role in nitrogen fixation and growth enhancement

1. Does marama, in its developmental stages, harbour tissue specific advantegous endophytic microorganism communities?

2. What are the identities of the active endophytic diazotrophs associated with marama with respect to tissue and developmental stages?

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So farSo far

Bacteria isolations from Bacteria isolations from germinated gnotobiotically germinated gnotobiotically

grown seedlings have started.grown seedlings have started.

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1. 34 culturable bacterial species from• 16 genera including Bacillus, Rhizobia,

Curtobacterium, Pantonea, Microbacterium, Enterobacter, and Burkoholderia were isolated.

2. 16 isolates with <95% similarity to published 16SrDNA sequences are being treated as potential new species and work is ongoing to characterize and describe them further.

3. Some of the endophytic bacteria species have strong characteristics for promoting growth directly on stimulating the plant and indirectly creating a permissive environment for growth.

We now know that marama bean seeds are home to at least:We now know that marama bean seeds are home to at least:

• We observed IAA production activity, ACC deaminase activity, siderophore forming activity, phosphate solubilizing activity, endoglucanase production and AHL production activity and nitrogen fixing activity and more.

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Marama plant growth promoting bacteria and mycorrhiza

Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks1. Marama farming is possible, conservation and

high production.

2. New biological details on marama are being unravelled.

3. Microbial-interactions key to its nutrient provision.

4. The enigma still persist, many unknowns, however we are closing the gaps: from the known knowns, known unknowns to the unknown knowns.

5. Marama bean domestication is WIP..63

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments• Marama Research Group at UNAM• Kirkhouse Trust• Swedish Development Agency (SIDA)• CPP initiative on Integrated Sustainable Land Management• NRF, South Africa• MAWF (IPTT)• UNAM, Namibia• University of Botswana• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences• University of Pretoria• University of Bremen• McGregor Foundation in USA• TFO (BMBF)• Alexander von Humboldt Foundation

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Thank you

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pchimwa@unam.na