To identify and develop germplasm of cereals and grain legumes with superior resource use efficiency and adapted to stress environments, in order to increase its future application to breeding programmes in member states.
A. To generate genetic variability, and to use existing mutated and naturally tolerant germplasm of crop plant genetic resources to identify genes controlling various traits contributing to tolerance to drought and salinity in defined environments and so gain a better understanding of the physiological and molecular basis of plant tolerance to drought and salinity.
B. To utilize refined nuclear and molecular techniques for screening large germplasm populations for improved yield and water use efficiency under saline and drought conditions.
C. To pyramid (create a platform for pyramiding) identified genes/characters and genotypes for effective improvement of stress tolerance in locally important cereals and grain legumes which contribute to food security using marker-assisted and other biotechnologies as well as farmer-participatory selection.
D. To foster relationships, transfer knowledge, technology, and genetic and molecular resources between all participating research groups for their mutual benefit.
The CRP allowed very good interactions and collaborations between all the participants, thus impacting directly the research output of these institutions and also enriching the scientist with new methodologies for implementation in their breeding and research programmes. A few advanced lines were reported, which should in the next future be introduced in the national crop improvement programmes and also the screening protocols designed under the CRP will surely be of great assistance to other scientists and breeders.
Specific achievements
• One Gene identified: oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase (At3G13610.1) part of oxidative stress network in Arabidopsis thaliana.
• Generation of durum wheat TILLING population.
• Construction and primary characterization of three mutant populations (M5) of soybean
• Identification of two rice mutants with significant tolerance to salinity.
• EcoTILLING in durum wheat initiated
• Confirmed 7 gain of function (GOF) rice mutants with enhanced drought tolerance/aerobic adaptation.
The CRP was of outmost relevance, as it was the first to deal with the pyramiding of mutated genes, which should become a routine procedure when working on the improvement relating to multigenic traits.