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- Regional Research Project 1
- The genebank
- Sorghum hybrid development
- Sorghum varieties for less fertile soil and intensifying production conditions
- Heterotic grouping of pearl millet landraces
- Pearl millet Adaptation to Climate Variability
- Mapping diversity
- Mobilizing regional diversity
- Enhancing groundnut productivity and production
- Aflatoxin management
- Vegetable breeding project (AVRDC/ICRISAT)
- Regional Research Project 2
- Regional Research Project 3
- Back to WCA page
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WCA Regional Research project 1 |
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The West and Central Africa Semi-Arid Tropics (WCA-SAT)
RRP 1: Conservation, management and enhancement of genetic resources
The Genebank
The conservation of plant genetic resources (PGR) is a prerequisite for their future use. PGR play a key role in the development of stress-resistant, high-yielding and high-quality cultivars of major crop species. They also offer farmers some production alternatives for higher income.
Against this background, in 1991, ICRISAT established the Genebank at the ICRISAT Sahelian Center (ISC) in Sadoré, with the following objectives:
- Sustainable germplasm conservation in the region;
- Dissemination of healthy germplasm;
- Characterization of germplasm collections;
- Support of training and capacity building;
- Publish documents related to plant genetic resources conservation, characterization, and use.
Over 36,485 accessions are preserved in two cold rooms (2°C and16°C) and 20 deep freezers. Additionally there is a seed laboratory for germination tests, seed inspection and packing, a greenhouse for raising delicate accessions, and irrigable fields for the conservation of tree species.
Collections conserved ex situ in the Genebank
Active or working collections
- The accessions are drawn for distribution, regeneration, evaluation, and use
- Base collections (FAO in-trust): These accessions are not used as a routine source of distribution of germplasm but as a security against loss.
- Safety duplicates of the world collection of groundnuts, pearl millets and finger millets
Ex-situ living plants collection
In 2001 we started a collection of tree species and varieties at ISC to provide vegetal material for propagation. We also aim to become a reference collection center of useful trees in the semi-arid tropics of West and Central Africa. The fruit trees are planted under drip irrigation. Collections cover a wide range of local and exotic useful species including fruit trees, vegetable plants, and vegetable oil species. A total of 151 varieties representing 40 species are planted.
Funding
The Genebank activities are funded by ICRISAT and the World Bank Genebank Up-grading Project.
Contact: Bettina Haussmann, Principal Scientist, based in Niamey
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| A Cold Room in the Genebank at Sadoré. |
