Knowledge Management Portal

The meeting minutes of a high-level stakeholder engagement event in Morocco attended by His Excellency the Minister of Agriculture, Marine Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forestry (MAPMDREF), the CGIAR Regional Director of Central and West Asia and North Africa, the F2R-CWANA Initiative lead, the Director of INRA and members of staff from ICARDA for the purposes of reconfirming Morocco's support to the CGIAR, and the CGIAR's support to the sustainable development of agriculture in Morocco.

Heat stress caused by climatic changes is one of the most significant stresses on livestock in hot and dry areas. It has particularly adverse effects on the ability of the breed to maintain homeothermy. Developing countries are advised to protect and prepare their animal resources in the face of potential threats such as climate change. The current study was conducted in Egypt’s three hot and dry agro-ecological zones. Three local sheep breeds (Saidi, Wahati, and Barki) were studied with a total of 206 ewes. The animals were exercised under natural heat stress. The heat tolerance index of the animals was calculated to identify animals with high and low heat tolerance based on their response to meteorological and physiological parameters. Genomic variation in these breeds was assessed using 64,756 single nucleotide polymorphic markers (SNPs). From the perspective of comparative adaptability to harsh conditions, our objective was to investigate the genomic structure that might control the adaptability of local sheep breeds to environmental stress under hot and dry conditions. In addition, indices of population structure and diversity of local breeds were examined. Measures of genetic diversity showed a significant influence of breed and location on populations. The standardized index of association (rbarD) ranged from 0.0012 (Dakhla) to 0.026 (Assuit), while for the breed, they ranged from 0.004 (Wahati) to 0.0103 (Saidi). The index of association analysis (Ia) ranged from 1.42 (Dakhla) to 35.88 (Assuit) by location and from 6.58 (Wahati) to 15.36 (Saidi) by breed. The most significant SNPs associated with heat tolerance were found in the MYO5A, PRKG1, GSTCD, and RTN1 genes (p ≤ 0.0001). MYO5A produces a protein widely distributed in the melanin-producing neural crest of the skin. Genetic association between genetic and phenotypic variations showed that OAR1_18300122.1, located in ST3GAL3, had the greatest positive effect on heat tolerance. Genome-wide association analysis identified SNPs associated with heat tolerance in the PLCB1, STEAP3, KSR2, UNC13C, PEBP4, and GPAT2 genes.

Final Workshop Meeting: Mitigating and adapting to the effects of Sand and Dust Storms (SDS) through Sustainable Land Management (SLM)

Soil salinization presents a major problem hindering crop development in many areas of the world. Over 800 Ma are affected by soil salinity globally (Munns and Tester, 2008). This process is mainly due to various reasons ranging from the natural accumulation of soluble salts in the soil to irrigation practices. However, breeding for salinity tolerance in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) has been productive over the past two decades with salinity levels expected to further increase from now till 2050 amid climate crisis. On one hand, selection programs such as that of ICARDA on dual-purpose barley and forage production will richly contribute to reinforcing the resilience of cereals in arid and semi-arid agricultural regions. Both sections of this study were carried out in the glasshouse and growth chamber at ICARDA, Morocco from February 2022 to August 2022. Primarily, the first set of experiments focuses on evaluating and effectively selecting from 240 elite barely genotypes (ASABYT-21 & DUAL-22) under hydroponic conditions over two screening events. With the ultimate goal of selecting high and moderately saline tolerant genotypes, 3 NaCl treatments (0mM, 100mM and 200mM) were used. The screening method adopted focused on evaluating plant response to salinity stress through 9 physiological traits (fresh root and shoot length, fresh & dry root and shoot weight, & leaf area) hence characterizing fresh and dry biomass production, biomass losses & ultimate plant survival between genotypes and across treatment trials. Observed results highlighted significant effects of salinity stress on all 9 measured traits. Over the course of the first screening events, a sheer total of top 30 genotypes were selected in extreme salinity treatments (200mM) on the basis of survival, minimal biomass loss and root & shoot biomass. With regard to salinity stress tested genotypes averaged drops of 35% and 55% in shoot biomass in 100mM & 200mM. Thereafter preselected lines plus additional 5 commercial checks were run in a confirmation experiment to validate obtained results. Of the 30 preselected lines, 23 lines confirmed the trait (salinity tolerance) in two replications. On the other hand, besides its sole use for grain yield, barley presents a rich nutritional arsenal that allows for use in feed, food and malting purposes. Hydroponic forage allows for rapid and sustainable fodder and forage production in areas restricted by climatic limitations, feed and fodder availability (off-season), integrated crop-livestock set-ups, and affordability. Over a production cycle of only 8 days, the viability of these systems is complemented with irrigation efficiency, high crop water productivity and high total fodder yielding lines. The basis of this second experiment primarily covers the development of a protocol for optimized hydroponic forage production. In light of our experimental approach, 20 CB-21 & 20 preselected lines for high biomass production from the salinity tolerance screening events were tested for hydroponic forage production in two replications. Over the course of this experiment, tested genotypes were tested across 3 irrigation applications (12, 8 & 6 ml/well/day). Ideally, green and dry fodder yields were accounted for in addition crop water productivity (CWP) for all irrigation applications. Statistical results highlighted significant differences amongst genotypes across all 3 irrigation trials. Observed results highlighted CWP of up 0.203 & 0.0208 in 12ml & 8 ml trials. With top genotypes (GIZA-126/IG:153839) able to produce 18.6 Kg/m² & 3.024 Kg/m² in green and dry fodder yield, overall fodder yield varied greatly between genotypes for all 3 trials. The basis of obtained results will serve on one hand in a validation run under salinity field conditions as compared to those obtained in hydroponics. On the other end second set of results will serve in the development of low cost (“rack or shelf”) systems for hydroponic forage production.

Strengthening Knowledge Management for Greater Development Effectiveness in the Near East, North Africa, Central Asia and Europe (SKiM) Project Newsletter, Issue 26, August-September 2022.

A field survey was conducted during March and April 2010, to identify viral diseases affecting cereal and legume crops in different regions of Libya. A total of 3706 barley and wheat samples were collected randomly in addition to 187 symptomatic samples from 22 barley and 20 wheat fields. Moreover, 34 symptomatic legume samples were collected from two faba bean fields and one field each of of lentil, chickpea, Vicia sativa, Vicia ervillia and Vicia narbonesis. All samples were tested at ICARDA Virology Laboratory by tissue blot immunoassay (TBIA) using specific antibodies. Results of random cereal samples showed that Barley yellow dwarf virus-PAV (BYDV-PAV) was more common (12.6%) in wheat and barley samples, followed by Wheat dwarf virus (WDV) (1.1%). In symptomatic samples, BYDV-PAV was also the most common (45 out of 187 samples tested were infected: 45/187), followed by WDV (23/187), Barley yellow striate mosaic virus (BYSMV) (40/187) and Maize streak virus (MSV) (7/187). In legume fields, Soybean dwarf virus (SbDV) 13 out of 34 samples tested were infected (13/34) was the most common, followed by Bean leafroll virus (BLRV) (12/34), Chickpea chlorotic stunt virus (CpCSV) (5/34) and Beet western yellows virus (BWYV) (4/34). Serological results were confirmed by amplification with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers. This is the first report of WDV, MSV and BYSMV on cereal crops, and BLRV, BWYV, SbDV and CpCSV on legume crops in Libya.

Presentation on knowledge on the beneficial role of extensive grazing for the restoration of dryland ecosystems. The presentation was performed by Dr. Mounir Louhaich during the FAO-GLF Digital Forum. The digital forum is hosted jointly by the Global Landscapes Forum and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Soil salinity affects various crop cultivation but legumes are the most sensitive to salinity. Osmotic stress is the first stage of salinity stress caused by excess salts in the soil on plants which adversely affects the growth instantly. The Trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) genes play a key role in the regulation of abiotic stresses resistance from the high expression of different isoform. Selected genotypes were evaluated to estimate for salt tolerance as well as genetic variability at morphological and molecular level. Allelic variations were identified in some of the selected genotypes for the TPS gene. A comprehensive analysis of the TPS gene from selected genotypes was conducted. Presence of significant genetic variability among the genotypes was found for salinity tolerance. This is the first report of allelic variation of TPS gene from chickpea and results indicates that the SNPs present in these conserved regions may contribute largely to functional distinction. The nucleotide sequence analysis suggests that the TPS gene sequences were found to be conserved among the genotypes. Some selected genotypes were evaluated to estimate for salt tolerance as well as for comparative analysis of physiological, molecular and allelic variability for salt responsive gene Trehalose-6-Phosphate Synthase through sequence similarity. Allelic variations were identified in some selected genotypes for the TPS gene. It is found that Pusa362, Pusa1103, and IG5856 are the most salt-tolerant lines and the results indicates that the identified genotypes can be used as a reliable donor for the chickpea improvement programs for salinity tolerance.