國際玉米小麥改良中心的小黑麥育種

國際玉米小麥改良中心的小黑麥育種Introduction

Smallgrainssuchaswheat,barley,andryeplayavitalroleintheglobalfoodsupplychain.Rye,inparticular,isanessentialcropinmanypartsoftheworld,servingasaprimarysourceoffoodandfodderforlivestock.However,smallgrainsfacesignificantchallengesposedbyclimatechange,pests,anddiseases.Tomitigatethesechallenges,theInternationalMaizeandWheatImprovementCenter(CIMMYT)haslaunchedabreedingprogramfocusedonryeimprovement.Inthispaper,wedescribethegoalsandobjectivesoftheCIMMYT'ssmall-grainbreedingprogram,withparticularemphasisonryebreeding.

Objectives

TheprimaryobjectiveoftheCIMMYTsmall-grainbreedingprogramistoimprovethequantityandqualityofsmall-graincrops.Specifically,theprogramaimstoachievethefollowing:

1.Developingsmall-graincropswithimprovedyieldpotentialandresistancetobioticandabioticstresses.

2.Improvingthenutritionalqualityofsmall-graincropsbyenhancingtheirproteinandmicronutrientcontent.

3.Enhancingsmall-graincropproductivitybyimprovingtheirnitrogenandwater-useefficiency.

4.Developingsmall-grainvarietiessuitablefordiverseagroecologicalconditions.

5.Disseminatingadvancedbreedinglinesandvarietiestosmallholderfarmersandseedcompanies.

Methodology

TheCIMMYTsmall-grainbreedingprogramfollowsamulti-disciplinaryapproachthatencompassestraditionalbreeding,molecularbiology,biotechnology,genetics,andagronomy.Theprograminvolvesfourmajorsteps:

1.Germplasmevaluationandcharacterization:Thisinvolvesevaluatingdiverseryegermplasmandidentifyinggenotypeswithdesirabletraitssuchasimprovedyieldpotential,resistancetopestsanddiseases,andabioticstresstolerance.

2.Germplasmenhancementandimprovement:Thisinvolvesdevelopingnewryebreedingpopulationsbycrossinggenotypeswithdesirabletraitsincontrolledenvironments.Thebreedingpopulationsarethenevaluatedfortheirperformanceandselectedbasedontheiragronomicandqualitycharacteristics.

3.Advancedtraitintrogressionandgenomics-assistedbreeding:Thisinvolvesintrogressingdesirabletraitsintoelitebreedinglinesandvarietiesusingmolecularmarkersandothergenomictools.ThegenomictoolsallowfortheidentificationofdesirabletraitsattheDNAlevel,therebyenablingfasterandmoreprecisebreeding.

4.Varietydevelopment,testing,anddissemination:Thisinvolvesselectingthebest-performingryelinesandvarietiesandsubjectingthemtorigorousfieldtestingunderdiverseagroecologicalconditions.Advancedbreedinglinesandvarietiesthatshowsuperiorperformancearereleasedtoseedcompaniesandsmallholderfarmers.

Results

TheCIMMYTsmall-grainbreedingprogramhasmadesignificantprogressindevelopingimprovedryevarietiesthatarebetteradaptedtodiverseagroecologicalconditions.Theprogramhasreleasedseveralryevarietieswithimprovedyieldpotential,resistancetodiseasesandpests,andimprovednutritionalquality.Forinstance,theimprovedryevarietiesdevelopedbytheprogramhaveshownupto10%higheryieldpotentialthantheexistingvarieties.Furthermore,thenewvarietieshaveshownenhancedresistancetopestinfestations,particularlyfungaldiseasessuchasrustandpowderymildew.Theprogramhasalsodevelopedryevarietieswithsignificantlyhigherproteinandmicronutrientcontent.Forinstance,someofthenewvarietieshaveshownupto20%moreproteincontentthantheexistingvarieties.

Conclusion

TheCIMMYTsmall-grainbreedingprogramaimstoimprovethequalityandquantityofsmall-graincrops,specificallyryecrops.Throughamulti-disciplinaryapproachthatinvolvesbreeding,molecularbiology,andgenomics,theprogramhasmadesignificantprogressindevelopingimprovedryevarietieswithhigheryieldpotential,resistancetopestsanddiseases,andenhancednutritionalquality.Theseimprovedvarietieshavethepotentialtoenhancefoodsecurityandlivelihoodsinareasthatrelyonryeasaprimarysourceoffoodandfodder.Inadditiontodevelopingimprovedryevarieties,theCIMMYTsmall-grainbreedingprogramalsofocusesondisseminatingthesevarietiestosmallholderfarmersandseedcompanies.Theprogramworkscloselywithnationalagricultureresearchorganizationsandextensionservicestoprovidefarmerswithhigh-qualityseedsandtechnicalsupportoncropmanagementpractices.

Theprogramhasalsoinitiatedcollaborationswithotherorganizationsworkingonsmall-graincropimprovement,suchastheInternationalCenterforAgriculturalResearchintheDryAreas(ICARDA).Thesecollaborationsaimtoshareknowledge,expertise,andresourcestoacceleratesmall-graincropimprovement.

Furthermore,theCIMMYTsmall-grainbreedingprogramiscommittedtosustainabilityandenvironmentalstewardship.Theprogramfocusesondevelopingvarietieswithimprovednitrogenandwater-useefficiencytoreducetheenvironmentalimpactofsmall-graincropproduction.Theprogramalsopromotessustainablecropmanagementpractices,suchascroprotationandintegratedpestmanagement,toenhancesoilhealthandreducechemicalinputs.

Inconclusion,theCIMMYTsmall-grainbreedingprogramismakingasignificantcontributiontoimprovingthequalityandquantityofsmall-graincrops,particularlyryecrops.Throughitsmulti-disciplinaryapproachandcommitmenttosustainability,theprogramisdevelopingimprovedryevarietiesthathavethepotentialtoenhancefoodsecurityandlivelihoodsindiverseagroecologicalconditions.Theprogram'seffortsalsohighlighttheimportanceofcollaborationandknowledgesharinginachievingsustainableagricultureandaddressingglobalchallengessuchashungerandclimatechange.OneofthemaingoalsoftheCIMMYTsmall-grainbreedingprogramistodevelopvarietiesthataretailoredtothespecificneedsofsmallholderfarmersindifferentregions.Thisinvolvesworkingcloselywithfarmerstoidentifythekeytraitsthatareimportantfortheirlocalconditions,suchasresistancetopestsanddiseases,tolerancetodroughtandheatstress,andhighyields.Byincorporatingthesetraitsintotheirbreedingprograms,theprogramisabletodevelopryevarietiesthatarebetteradaptedtolocalconditions,whichhelpstoimprovecropproductivityandresilience.

Theprogramalsoplacesastrongemphasisongenderequityandsocialinclusion.Itrecognizesthatwomenplayacriticalroleinsmallholderagricultureandoftenfaceuniquechallengesandconstraints.Therefore,theprogramworkstoensurethatwomenfarmershaveequalaccesstohigh-quality,disease-resistantryeseedsandtechnicalsupport.Italsopromoteswomen'sparticipationinfarmerfieldschools,wheretheycanacquirenewskillsandknowledgeoncropmanagementpractices.

Anotherimportantaspectoftheprogramisitsfocusoncapacitybuildingandknowledgetransfer.Theprogramprovidestrainingandtechnicalsupportfornationalagricultureresearchorganizations,extensionagents,andseedcompanies,whichhelpstostrengthentheircapacityforsmall-grainbreedinganddissemination.This,inturn,facilitatestheadoptionofimprovedryevarietiesandsustainablecropmanagementpracticesatthenationalandregionallevels.

Overall,theCIMMYTsmall-grainbreedingprogramismakingavaluablecontributiontoglobalfoodsecurityandsustainabledevelopmentbydevelopingimprovedryevarietiesandpromotingsustainablecropmanagementpractices.Itseffortsdemonstratetheimportanceofcollaborativeinterdisciplinaryresearch,genderequity,andcapacitybuildinginachievingsustainableagricultureandadvancingtheUnitedNationsSustainableDevelopmentGoals.Inadditiontoitsworkonsmall-grainbreeding,theCIMMYTalsosupportsresearchanddevelopmentinotherareasofagriculture,suchasmaize,wheat,andsoilhealth.Thisbroad-basedapproachrecognizesthecomplexinteractionsbetweendifferentcrops,aswellastheimportanceofmaintaininghealthysoilsforsustainableagriculture.

TheCIMMYTalsoplaysanimportantroleinpromotingpolicychangesthatsupportsustainableagricultureandreducehungerandpoverty.Itworkscloselywithnationalgovernmentsandinternationalorganizationstodeveloppoliciesandstrategiesthatprioritizesmallholderfarmersandimprovetheiraccesstomarkets,credit,andotherresources.

OneofthekeystrengthsoftheCIMMYTisitsabilitytoworkacrossbordersandcultures.Ithasaglobalnetworkofpartnersandcollaborators,whichenablesittoshareknowledgeandresources,aswellastoadaptitsresearchtolocalneedsandconditions.Thisapproachhasprovensuccessfulinarangeofcontexts,fromthearidlandsofNorthAfricatothehighlandsofEthiopia.

Overall,theCIMMYT’sworkonsmall-grainbreedingisjustonepartofabroaderefforttoimproveglobalfoodsecurityandpromotesustainableagricultureinthefaceofongoingchallengessuchasclimatechange,populationgrowth,andenvironmentaldegradation.Itsfocusoncollaboration,genderequity,andcapacitybuildinghasmadeitavitalactorintheglobalefforttoachievetheUNSustainableDevelopmentGoals.AnotherimportantareaofworkfortheCIMMYTisthedevelopmentofclimate-smartagriculture(CSA)practices.Asclimatechangeincreasinglyputspressureonglobalfoodsystems,itisimportanttodevelopstrategiesthatcanhelpmitigateandadapttoitsimpacts.TheCIMMYThasbeenattheforefrontofthiseffort,developingnewcropsandmanagementpracticesthatcanhelpfarmersadapttochangingconditionsandreducetheirenvironmentalfootprint.

Oneexampleofthisworkisthedevelopmentofdrought-tolerantmaizevarietiesthatcanhelpfarmerscopewithchangingrainfallpatterns.Thesevarietieshavebeenhighlysuccessful,withfarmersinregionssuchaseasternandsouthernAfricaadoptingtheminlargenumbers.

TheCIMMYTalsopromotestheuseofconservationagriculturetechniques,whichcanhelpimprovesoilhealth,reduceerosion,andincreasewaterretention.Thesepracticesinvolveminimaltillage,croprotations,andtheuseofcovercrops,andcanbehighlyeffectiveinimprovingyieldsandreducingenvironmentaldamage.

TheCIMMYTalsoprioritizesgenderequityandsocialinclusioninitswork.Womenplayavitalroleinagricultureinmanypartsoftheworld,andtheCIMMYTfocusesondevelopingtechnologiesandpracticesthatcanspecificallybenefitthem.ThisincludesinitiativessuchastheSeedsofDiscoveryproject,whichaimstoincreasetheavailabilityofimprovedmaizeandwheatvarietiestowomenfarmers.

Inconclusion,theCIMMYT'sworkonsmall-grainbreedingisjustonepartofitsbroadermissiontopromotefoodsecurity,sustainability,andsocialequity.Itsapproachtocollaboration,research,andpolicyadvocacyhasmadeitanimportantglobalactorinthefightagainsthungerandpoverty.Inadditiontoitsworkonsmall-grainbreedingandclimate-smartagriculture,theCIMMYTalsoengagesinresearchandadvocacyonarangeofotherimportantissues.

OnekeyareainwhichtheCIMMYTisactiveisnutrition.Althoughmaizeandwheatprovideasignificantportionoftheworld'sdietarycalories,theycanbedeficientinkeymicronutrientssuchasiron,zinc,andvitaminA.TheCIMMYTworkstodevelopcropsthataremorenutritionallyrich,aswellaspromotingdiversedietsthatincorporatearangeofnutrient-richfoods.

Anotherimportantareaoffocusisseedsystems.TheCIMMYTaimstoensurethatsmallholderfarmershaveaccesstohigh-quality,affordableseedthatisappropriatefortheirlocalconditions.Thisinvolvesworkingwithlocalseedproducers,aswellasengagingwithpolicymakerstopromotepoliciesthatsupportsmallholderaccesstoseed.

TheCIMMYTalsoprioritizesthedevelopmentofinclusivemarketsthatbenefitsmallholderfarmers.Thisincludespromotingvalue-addedprocessingandmarketinginitiativesthathelpfarmerscapturemorevaluefromtheircrops,aswellasengagingwithprivatesectorpartnerstopromotesustainableandequitablevaluechains.

Overall,theCIMMYT'sworkisguidedbyacommitmenttosustainableandequitabledevelopment.Byworkingwithfarmers,researchers,policymakers,andotherpartnersaroundtheglobe,theCIMMYTismakingasignificantcontributiontoeffortstoaddresssomeofthegreatestchallengesfacingourglobalfoodsystem.Inadditiontoitsworkonnutrition,seedsystems,andinclusivemarkets,theCIMMYTisalsocommittedtoaddressingthechallengesposedbyclimatechange.Astemperaturesriseandweatherpatternsbecomeincreasinglyunpredictable,farmersaroundtheworldarefacingnewanddifficultgrowingconditions.TheCIMMYTisworkingtodevelopcropvarietiesthataremoreresilienttoclimatechange,aswellaspromotingsustainablefarmingpracticesthathelpsequestercarboninthesoil.

AnotherimportantareaoffocusfortheCIMMYTisgenderandsocialequality.Womenandmarginalizedgroupsoftenfacesignificantbarrierstoaccessingresourcesandparticipatingindecision-makingprocessesrelatedtoagriculture.TheCIMMYTisworkingtopromotegender-equitableagriculture,wherewomenandmenhaveequalaccesstoresourcesandareabletoparticipatefullyindecision-makingprocessesthataffecttheircommunities.

Finally,theCIMMYTisactivelyengagedinsciencecommunicationandoutreach.Theorganizationrecognizestheimportanceofengagingwithpolicymakers,farmers,andthegeneralpublictobuildawarenessandsupportforitswork.Throughavarietyofeducationalprograms,outreachinitiatives,andmediachannels,theCIMMYTisworkingtoensurethatitsresearchanddevelopmenteffortsarewidelyunderstoodandappreciated.

Overall,theCIMMYT'sworktouchesonawiderangeofissuesthatarecriticaltothefutureofglobalfoodsecurity.Bytakingaholisticandintegratedapproachtoagricultureanddevelopment,theorganizationismakingasignificantimpactonthelivesoffarmersandcommunitiesaroundtheworld.OneofthekeywaysthattheCIMMYTismakinganimpactisthroughitscollaborativeapproach.Theorganizationworkscloselywithawiderangeofpartners,includingnationalagricultureresearchorganizations,universities,NGOs,andprivatesectorcompanies.Byworkingtogether,thesepartnersareabletoshareknowledgeandresources,anddevelopinnovativesolutionstothecomplexchallengesfacingagricultureandfoodsecurity.

AnotherimportantaspectoftheCIMMYT'sworkisitsfocusonempoweringfarmers.Theorganizationrecognizesthatfarmersarethekeytoimprovingfoodsecurity,andthattheyneedtobefullyinvolvedintheprocessofdevelopingandimplementingnewtechnologiesandpractices.Tothisend,theCIMMYTworkswithfarmerstotestandrefinenewcropvarieties,andtopromotesustainablefarmingpracticesthatarepracticalandeffective.

Inadditiontoitsworkontheground,theCIMMYTisalsoinvolvedinshapingglobalpolicyaroundagricultureanddevelopment.TheorganizationisakeyplayeringlobalinitiativessuchastheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsandtheParisClimateAgreement,advocatingforpoliciesthatpromotesustainableagricultureandaddressthechallengesposedbyclimatechange.

Overall,theCIMMYT'sworkismakingarealdifferenceinthelivesoffarmersandcommunitiesaroundtheworld.Byfocusingonnutrition,seedsystems,inclusivemarkets,climatechange,genderandsocialequity,andsciencecommunication,theorganizationistakingacomprehensiveapproachtoaddressingthecomplexchallengesofglobalfoodsecurity.Throughcollaboration,empowerment,andadvocacy,theCIMMYTishelpingtobuildamoresustainableandequitableworldforall.TheCIMMYThasmadesignificantprogressindevelopingnewcropvarietiesadaptedtothechallengesofclimatechangeandincreasin