Prediction of resistance, virulence, and host-by-pathogen interactions using dual-genome prediction models.

Integrating disease screening data and genomic data for host and pathogen populations into prediction models provides breeders and pathologists with a unified framework to develop disease resistance. Developing disease resistance in crops typically consists of exposing breeding populations to a virulent strain of the pathogen that is causing disease. While including a diverse set of pathogens in the experiments would be desirable for developing broad and durable disease resistance, it is logistically complex and uncommon, and limits our capacity to implement dual (host-by-pathogen)-genome prediction models.

Identification of environment types and adaptation zones with self-organizing maps; applications to sunflower multi-environment data in Europe.

We evaluate self-organizing maps (SOM) to identify adaptation zones and visualize multi-environment genotypic responses. We apply SOM to multiple traits and crop growth model output of large-scale European sunflower data. Genotype-by-environment interactions (G × E) complicate the selection of well-adapted varieties.

In pursuit of a better world: crop improvement and the CGIAR.

The CGIAR crop improvement (CI) programs, unlike commercial CI programs, which are mainly geared to profit though meeting farmers' needs, are charged with meeting multiple objectives with target populations that include both farmers and the community at large. We compiled the opinions from >30 experts in the private and public sector on key strategies, methodologies, and activities that could the help CGIAR meet the challenges of providing farmers with improved varieties while simultaneously meeting the goals of: (i) nutrition, health, and food security; (ii) poverty reduction, livelihoods, and jobs; (iii) gender equality, youth, and inclusion; (iv) climate adaptation and mitigation; and (v) environmental health and biodiversity. We review the crop improvement processes starting with crop choice, moving through to breeding objectives, production of potential new varieties, selection, and finally adoption by farmers.

Maize, sorghum, and pearl millet have highly contrasting species strategies to adapt to water stress and climate change-like conditions.

This study compared maize, sorghum and pearl-millet, leading C cereals, for the transpiration rate (TR) response to increasing atmospheric and soil water stress. The TR response to transiently increasing VPD (0.9-4.