Learning from farmers to improve sorghum breeding objectives and adoption in Mali

Abstract

Many efforts have been made to improve sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] varieties, but adoption of improved varieties remains low. Sorghum has diverse panicle architecture and grain qualities that vary within and between races, and utilization and adoption may depend on these traits. Recent efforts in West Africa to improve local guinea race germplasm as a base material have diversified potential options: there are breeding materials with a range of panicle types with increased grain number per panicle and a range of droopiness, as well as laxness and threshability. This study was designed to expand our understanding about sorghum grain and panicle traits that are important for farmers in the Sudan savanna zone of Mali. We combined a sorghum panicle sorting activity with qualitative interviews in Mande and Dioïla to understand farmers' knowledge and preferences about sorghum characteristics. A total of 20 panicle sorting activities and 20 interviews were conducted with men and women sorghum producers. Based on their roles and responsibilities in sorghum production and processing, farmers associated specific panicle types, plant types, and grain traits with aspects of pest control, threshability, storage duration, and yield. Farmers preferred open panicles and droopy architecture for disease and pest control; hard grains for storage and appropriate ratios of flour and grits; high density of grain on the panicle for yield; and specific glume qualities for threshability. Breeding programs need to consider these regional preferences and gender roles to develop appropriate material and increase adoption of productive varieties.

Transforming a traditional commons-based seed system through collaborative networks of farmer seed-cooperatives and public breeding programs: the case of sorghum in Mali

“…Interactions took place through various on-farm and on-station participatory breeding activities (Weltzien et al 2020). Farmers also explored the sorghum diversity available with breeders by visiting research stations or on-farm plots (Diakite 2003;Siart 2008) and identified and prioritized preferred traits for future improvements (Weltzien et al 2006;2008;Diallo et al 2018).…”

“…Targeted studies of specific topics, such as farmers' seed systems and trait preferences (Diakité 2003;Siart 2008;Ehret 2010, unpublished work;Deu et al 2014;Diallo et al 2018), as well as women's role in sorghum production and use (Isaacs et al 2018;Rattunde et al 2018) were undertaken. Also, characterizations of agro-ecological and climatic factors influencing crop-production and crop improvement research (Abdulai et al 2012;Herrmann et al 2013) were conducted.…”

Sorghum Hybrids for Low‐Input Farming Systems in West Africa: Quantitative Genetic Parameters to Guide Hybrid Breeding

“…Sorghum farmers in the Sudanian and Sahelian zone of WA, stretching across Senegal, Mali and Burkina Faso, predominantly cultivate Guinea-race varieties or landraces that possess the required panicle (lax and drooping with wide glume opening at maturity) and grain quality (hard corneous endosperm, low decortication, and grain storage losses) and a suite of adaptation traits (Weltzien et al, 2018). It was therefore necessary for breeders to develop female parents based on local germplasm to produce hybrids with key adaptation and grain quality traits, required for adoption by farmers (Toure and Scheuring, 1982;Diallo et al, 2018).…”

Agromorphological Characterization of Introgression Lines Derived from Wild and Exotic Sorghum Germplasm to Climate Change Challenges

“…The high significant variability observed in grain yield has also been reported by several previous studies on sorghum [3] [26] [27] [28]. However, the 100 grains weight trait which was used to estimate seed size and grain yield before harvest, according to Deffan et al [24] showed low variability.…”