Biodiversity Conservation and Management at INTSORMIL Gebisa Ejeta Plant Genetics & Breeding Purdue University

The African “center of crop origin” Cereals –African rice (Oryza glaberrima), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) (West African drylands), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) (Abyssinia), tef (Eragrostis abyssinica), fonio (Digitaria exilis) (West Africa) Pulses –cowpea (Vigna linguculata), bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea), hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus), kersting's groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpa) Roots & tuber crops –yam (Dioscorea cayanensis) Oil crops –oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) (West Africa), castor bean (Ricinus communis) Fruits & nuts –baobab (Adansonia digitata) (tropical Africa), watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) melon (Cucumis melo) (central Africa) Vegetables & spices –okra (Hibiscus esculentus), sesame (Sesamum indicum), egglplant (Solanum aethiopicum) (tropical Africa). Fibers –kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) (Western Sudan) Stimulants –coffee (Coffea arabica) (Abyssinia)

VI. Abyssinian Center Abyssinia, Eritrea, and part of Somaliland (Vavilov centers of origin) Grains & Legumes Abyssinian hard wheatTriticum durum abyssinicum Poulard wheatTriticum turgidum abyssinicum EmmerTriticum dicoccum abyssinicum Polish wheatTriticum polonicum abyssinicum BarleyHordeum sativum Grain sorghumAndropogon sorghum Pearl milletPennisetum spicatum African milletEleusine coracana TefEragrostis abyssinica CowpeaVigna sinensis FlaxLinum usitatissimum Miscellaneous SesameSesamum indicum (basic center) Castor beanRicinus communis (a center) Garden cressLepidium sativum CoffeeCoffea arabica OkraHibiscus esculentus MyrrhCommiphora abyssinicia NigerGuizotia abyssinica EnseteMusa ventricosum IndigoIndigofera argente

Diversity Diverse ecological conditions and different ethnic customs and preferences resulted in enormous genetic diversity. Most have shown great resilience and broad adaptation Global distribution of these species has served humanity well. Some have had a narrowly defined nich & utility –Example: Teff is a highly valued staple cereal crop in Ethiopia, but is cultivated no where else as a food crop.

Conservation and Management of Genetic Resources: Essential In situ conservation Ex situ Conservation Whose Responsibility? –Partnerships and Dialogue Ag & Conservation Groups Scientists & Policy Makers Rich & Poor Nations –Accountability (community, nation, & donors) –Education, based on demonstrable benefit

Genetic Resource Conservation Activities at INTSORMIL Collection, characterization, and documentation

Americas China Sorghum Domestication India early Sorghum bicolor Sudan Ethiopia

NPGS USA 42,221 accessions domestication center ICRISAT India 36,719 accessions Sorghum Collections

Sources of genetic variation Drought tolerance Feteritas - Sudan Hegaris - Sudan Transplants - Sudan, Chad, Cameroon Hard Durras - Ethiopia, India Soft Durras - Nigeria Nutritional Quality Wotet Begunche Sinde Lamine Indian Durras/Bhasmati Sweet stalks Tanzania Rice Types Stand Establishment West African Caudatums Chinese Kaoliangs Cold Tolerance Chinese Kaoliangs Ethiopian Durras Yemen Durras Striga Tolerance Kittgn Aifere - Ethiopia Seguétana - Mali Acid Soils Tolerance Uganda, Zambia, Mali

Genetic Resource Conservation Activities at INTSORMIL Collection, characterization, and documentation Enhance the diversity base of breeding programs

Genetic Resource Conservation Activities at INTSORMIL Collection, characterization, and documentation Enhance the diversity base of breeding programs Facilitate open exchange and distribution

Released in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, 2001 under the name “Brhan”

Genetic Resource Conservation Activities at INTSORMIL Collection, characterization, and documentation Enhance the diversity base of breeding programs Facilitate open exchange and distribution Conduct diversity analysis (ex-situ, in-situ) –Morphological –Molecular

Genetic Diversity in Cultivated Sorghums Genetic Diversity in Cultivated Races of Sorghum (Menkir et al., Crop Sci. 37:564) –190 acc. from four geographic regions of origin (Far and Middle East, Central and Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, Western Africa) polymorphic RAPD bands –Cultivated races with limited amount of genetic differentiation Low level of differentiation among regions –Genetic distances estimates to help identifying suitable germplasm for introgression into breeding stocks Phenotypic Diversity among Sudanese Landraces (Grenier et al., GRES in press) –2,017 acc. Sudanese landrace collection - 19 morpho-agronomic characters –Different distribution of phenotypic diversity among regions Specific patterns of phenotypic diversity for each geographical area of origin –Phenotypic diversity to highlight selective pressures that have reduced the variation to certain ideotypes

Genetic Diversity in Cultivated Races of Sorghum RegionsFar and Middle East Central and Eastern Africa Southern Africa Western Africa Far and Middle East 0.350a0.357bc0.356c0.375b Central and Eastern Africa 0.353ab0.348b0.365ad Southern Africa 0.305a0.374b Western Africa 0.358a Mean genetic distance estimates calculated from 162 polymorphic RAPD bands for all pairs of accessions from either one or two geographic regions of origin (Menkir et al., Crop Sci. 37:564)

Phenotypic Diversity among Sudanese Landraces Principal component analysis on the total Sudanese landrace collection (2,017 acc.) and for nine quantitative morpho-agronomic characters (Grenier et al., GRES in press) Upper Nile Gezira- Gedarif Kassala Blue Nile Equatoria

Genetic Resource Conservation Activities at INTSORMIL Collection, characterization, and documentation Enhance the diversity base of breeding programs Facilitate open exchange and distribution Conduct diversity analysis (ex-situ, in-situ) –Morphological –Molecular Assess extent of gene flow bet. Wild & Cultivated

Gene Flow Between Cultivated and Wild Sorghums in Africa

Genetic Resource Conservation Activities at INTSORMIL Collection, characterization, and documentation Enhance the diversity base of breeding programs Facilitate open exchange and distribution Conduct diversity analysis (ex-situ, in-situ) –Morphological –Molecular Assess extent of gene flow bet. Wild & Cultivated Investigate extent of real genetic erosion

Genetic Resource Conservation Activities at INTSORMIL Collection, characterization, and documentation Enhance the diversity base of breeding programs Facilitate open exchange and distribution Conduct diversity analysis (ex-situ, in-situ) –Morphological –Molecular Assess extent of gene flow bet. Wild & Cultivated Investigate extent of real genetic erosion Facilitate repatriation and/or new introduction

Biomass & Biofuel Potential?