tef breeding: challenges & opportunities
TRANSCRIPT
Tef Breeding: Challenges and Opportunities
CONFERENCE: Improved Evidence Towards Better Policies for the Tef
Value Chain
10 October 2013Hilton Hotel
Addis AbabaEthiopia
By Kebebew Assefa
Outline Introduction
Significance of tef cropRelative merits of tef
Tef Breeding: Historical Perspectives Objectives & Major Achievements Challenges Opportunities Conclusions Acknowledgements
IntroductionTef is the most important cereal of EthiopiaAbout 29% of the total acreage and 19% of the gross grain production of all cereals (CSA, 2012) (Table 1)
It is grown by over 6 million farmers’ households
It is the major staple food grain for most Ethiopians (> 50 million people) (Important in the national food security)
Table 1. Area, production and yield of cereals for private holdings for 2011/12 (2004 E.C.) main (meher) season in Ethiopia (CSA, 2012)
Crop Area Production Av. yield(t/ha)
No. ofFarmers (million)
Million ha
% of cerea
ls
Million t
% of cerea
ls
Tef 2.73 28.47 3.50 18.61 1.281 6.30Maize 2.06 21.48 6.07 32.27 2.954 9.16Sorghum 1.92 20.02 3.95 21.00 2.054 5.17Wheat 1.44 15.02 2.92 15.52 2.029 4.33Barley 0.95 9.91 1.59 8.45 1.672 4.09Finger millet 0.43 4.48 0.66 3.51 1.507 1.57Oats/Emmer 0.03 0.31 0.50 2.66 1.618 0.25Rice 0.03 0.31 0.89 4.73 2.891 0.09CEREALS 9.59 18.81 1.962 13.09
Introduction (Cont’d)Relative merits in husbandry1)Versatile agro-ecological
adaptation (0- 3000 m a.s.l.) Center of both origin and diversity Wide genetic variability
2) Resilience to both drought and waterlogging
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Fig. 1. Tef production areas
Introduction (Cont’d)Relative merits in husbandry
3) Fitness for various cropping systems
4) Use as a catch and low-risk reliable crop (at times of failures of long-season crops)
5) Little or no serious threats of disease and pest epidemics
Introduction (Cont’d)Relative merits in utilization
1) Best quality, consumer-preferred “injera”: Good water holding capacity, long shelf-life, unique flavor (slightly sour but pleasant), pliability, smooth and glossy texture
2) High returns in flour : 99% compared to 60-80% from wheat (Ebba, 1969)
3) High returns in “injera”
Introduction (Cont’d)Relative merits in utilization (Cont’d)4) Minimal post-harvest losses and high storage longevity (storability)
Introduction (Cont’d)Relative merits in utilization (Cont’d)5) Importance of the straw mainly as fodder for cattle and as a binder of mud used for plastering walls of local houses
Introduction (Cont’d)Relative merits in utilization (Cont’d)
6) Cash crop value owing to the high market prices of both the grains and the straw
Introduction (Cont’d)7) Nutritive valueVery nutritious cereal grainHigh mineral contents (Fe, Ca, Cu,
Zn, Mg)Health and performance food
Gluten-free (Celiac disease) Slow release carbohydrates (diabetics) Anaemia
Nutritional content of tef grain
Table 2. Comparison of nutrition status of tef with some of the major cereals
Item Tef Wheat Rice Maize Sorghum Barley
Protein 11.0 11.0 9.7 9.4 8.6 8.5
Fat 2.6 1.9 1.6 4.4 3.8 1.5
Fiber 3.5 1.9 5.8 2.2 1.9 4.5
Carbohydrate 73.0 69.3 64.7 69.2 71.3 67.4
Mineral ash 3.0 1.7 5.0 1.3 2.4 2.6
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Some consumer products of tef
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Inception: Late 1950s (Jima) Five inter-related phases
1) Phase I: 1956-1974 Germplasm enhancement Mass and/or pure-line selection from germplasm Initiation of induced mutagenesis
2) Phase II: 1975-1995 Discovery of artificial hybridization technique by
Tareke Berhe in 1974 Incorporation of intra-specific hybridization
Tef Breeding: Historical Perspectives
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3) Phase III: 1995-1998 Initiation of molecular approaches (molecular
markers and genetic linkage maps, analyses of molecular genetic diversity)
4) Phase IV: 1998-2003 Incorporation of in vitro culture techniques & Inter-
specific hybridization Reappraisal of induced mutation techniques
5) Phase V: 2003- present Introduction of participatory approaches (PVS
and PPB) Continued genomics
Tef Breeding: Historical …(Cont’d)
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Tef Breeding: ObjectivesIncreased productivity (Grain + Straw)
Lodging Resistance Improved quality
- Tef (Grain color)- Injera making quality
Resistance/tolerance to biotic stresses
Resistance /tolerance to abiotic stresses
Generation of basic information Promotion of improved varieties
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Tef Breeding: Methodology
33 varieties released (MoA, 2012) 19 DZARC (10 from crosses)2 Holetta (Holetta Key & Ambo Toke)1 Melkassa (Gemechis)5 Sirinka (Gola, Genete, Zobel, Mechare & Laketch – RIL273 from DZARC)
1 Areka (Ajora)3 Adet (Yilmana, Dima & Etsub)2 Bako (Guduru & Kena)Only 11 were from crosses (incl. Lakecth)
Major Achievements
Table 3. Varieties mid and high altitude areas with adequate moisture (optimum environment) (11)
Variety Year released
Seed color Grain yield (t/ha)
Research field Farmers' field
DZ-01-354DZ-01-99DZ-01-787DZ-01-196DZ-Cr-44DZ-Cr-82DZ-Cr-255DZ-01-974DZ-Cr-358DZ-01-1285 (Koye)DZ-Cr-387 RIL 355 (Quncho)
1970197019781970198219821993199519952002
2006
Pale WhiteBrownPale WhiteVery whiteWhiteWhiteWhiteWhiteWhiteWhite
Very White
2.4-3.22.4-3.02.4-3.01.8-2.22.4-3.02.4-2.82.0-3.02.4-3.42.1-3.62.4-3.6
2.5-2.7
1.7-2.21.7-2.21.7-2.21.4-1.61.7-2.21.7-2.21.4-1.82.0-2.52.0-2.51.8-2.5
2.0-2.8
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Table 4. Varieties for terminal drought prone lowland areas (7)
Variety Year released
Seed color
Grain yield (t/ha)
Research field
Farmers' field
DZ-Cr-37 (Tsedey)DZ-01-1281 (Gerado)DZ-01-1681 (Key Tena)Ho-Cr-136 (Amarach)GemechisSimada (Cr-285 RIL295)Boset
198420022002200620072009
2012
WhiteWhiteWhiteWhiteWhiteWhite
Very white
1.8-2.22.0-2.22.0-2.21.7-2.31.5-1.81.8-2.2
1.9-2.8
1.7-2.01.6-2.01.6-2.01.4-1.81.4-1.81.7-2.0
1.6-2.0
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Boset: DZ-01-196 X DZ- Cr-37) HT'01-409 (sel 50d)
Table 5. Varieties released for cool waterlogged highlands (3)
Variety Year released
Seed color
Grain yield (t/ha)
Research field
Farmers' field
DZ-01-899 (Gimbichu)DZ-01-2675 (Dega tef)
2005
2005
White
White
1.8-2.0
1.8-2.8
1.6-1.8
1.6-2.0
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Two candidate varieties: under verification in 2013/14 main season
DZARC/EIAR National coordinatorDevelopment and execution of country-wide tef research projects
Federal Research CentersRARIs HLIsOn-farm trials
Institutional Set-up
Local Various institutions NGOs Private sector
InternationalMcKnight Foundation (MF-CCRP)ODAIAEATTU and Cornell UniversityUniversity of Bern
Collaborations
Challenges1) Lack of attention (both
local and international) Orphan/under-researched crop Little or no international focus
(CGs, regional or other national institutions, donors, etc.)
Limited national focus: Recognition as a national
priority
Challenges2) Institutional Problems
DZARC as a center of excellence
No adequate enhancement of capacity both at the CoE and national level at large
Lack of coordination
Challenges3) Resource limitationsAcute shortage of human
resourcesLack of adequate
infrastructure and facilities
Challenges4) Technical problemsLimitations in basic knowledge
on tef Lodging has persisted as major
challenge in tef Seed size Shattering Resistance to diseases such as leaf
rust Weak seed systems and technology
dissemination systems
Opportunities 1) Improved attention
Government attention against the previous belief that tef is not amenable to improvement
Improved international attention especially by donors
2) Huge wealth of genetic resources/diversity
Opportunities (Cont’d)
Table 6. Tef germplasm collections [udated from Seyfu, (1997)]
Source /Institution No. of samples/accessionss
Ethiopia, IIBC 5169Germany, Inst. of Crop Science, Braunschwelg 30Germany, Insti. for Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, (IPK) - Genebank, Gatersleben
5
Japan, Dept. of Genetic Resources, I Nat. Inst. of Agrobio. Resources 30Yemen, Agricultural Research and Extension Authority 2Russia, N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Res. Insti. of Plant Industry, St. Petersburg,
14
Slovak Republic, Botanical Garden of the University of Agriculture 1South Africa, Division of Plant and Seed Control. Dept. of Agric. Tech. Service, Private Bag X179, Pretoria
3
UK, Welsh Plant Breeding Station, Inst. of Grassland and Environ. Res. 3USA, National Seed Storage Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
341
USA, Western Region Plant Introduction Station, USDA-ARS, Washington State University, Pullman
368
Total 596631
Table 7 . Ranges for some traits of tef (Kebebew et al., 2001)
Trait Minimum Maximum
Days to panicle emergence 25 81
Days to mature 60 140
Grain filling period (days) 29 75
Plant height (cm) 20 156
Culm length (cm) 11 82
First culm internode length (cm) 2.68 8.05
Second culm internode length (cm) 4.15 11.45
First and second culm internode diameter (mm)
1.2 4.5
Table 7. Cont’d
Trait Minimum Maximum
Panicle length (cm) 10 65Peduncle length (cm) 5.85 42.3
No. primary panicle branches 10 40
No. spikelet/panicle 30 1070
No. florets/spikelet 3 17
Grain yield/panicle (g) 0.11 2.5
No. tillers/plant (total) 4 22
No. tillers/plant (fertile) 1 17
Table 7. Cont’d
Trait Minimum Maximum
Grain yield/plant (g) 0.54 21.9
Total phytomass/plant (g) 4 105
Hundred kernel mass (mg) 18.97 33.88
Grain yield (kg/ha) 1058 4599
Shoot phytomass yield (kg/ha)
6355 19630
Diameter of grains (mm) 0.50 1.0
Harvest index (%) 5 39
Lodging index 20 100
Opportunities (Cont’d) 3) New insights in breeding
approaches Participatory approaches Germplasm Collection/acquisition Hybridization
Increasing number of crosses Intra-specific and inter-specific crossingHarnessing potentials of wide crosses
(Divergent Crossing)Targeted Crossing
Opportunities (Cont’d) 3) New breeding approaches
(Cont’d)Ideo-type crossing for lodging resistanceSemi-dwarf compact panicle ideotypes
with reduced peduncle lengthSemi-dwarf semi-compact (Gomadie-like)
panicle types with short peduncles (i.e. inflorescence ideo-type more or less similar to that of rice)
Semi-dwarf loose panicle types with reduced length between panicle branches and short peduncles)
Opportunities (Cont’d) 3) New insights in breeding approaches (Cont’d)
Biotechnological approachesIn vitro culture techniques (especially DH production)
Molecular markers and linkage mapQTL analysisComparative genomics (association mapping)
Opportunities (Cont’d) 3) New insights in breeding approaches (Cont’d)
Biotechnological approaches (cont’d)
TILLING and Eco-TILLINGGenome sequence and annotation (functional genomics)
MASGenetic transformationHarnessing important tef genes
Opportunities (Cont’d)
3) Brighter prospects (cont’d) Development and release of a
value chain strategy Initiation of focus on
enhancement of national tef research capability
Improvements in seed multiplication and technology dissemination
Summary: Less problem with good stuff
Commendable progress but yet not sufficient
For Ethiopia, improvement of tef is not an option but a dire need
Strengthened efforts in all aspects
Refinement & strict implementation of the strategy
Conclusions
Ethiopian Government
IFPRI/ATAEIARMF-CCRP and other donors
Acknowledgements
Tef in Europe
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Quncho tef scaling-up
THANK YOU!!!