Breeding wheat for drought tolerance： Progress and technologies

Recurrent drought associated with climate change is among the principal constraints to global productivity of wheat（Triticum aestivum（L.） and T. turgidum（L.））. Numerous efforts to mitigate drought through breeding resilient varieties are underway across the world. Progress is, however, hampered because drought tolerance is a complex trait that is controlled by many genes and its full expression is affected by the environment. Furthermore, wheat has a structurally intricate and large genome. Consequently, breeding for drought tolerance requires the integration of various knowledge systems and methodologies from multiple disciplines in plant sciences. This review summarizes the progress made in dry land wheat improvement, advances in knowledge, complementary methodologies, and perspectives towards breeding for drought tolerance in the crop to create a coherent overview. Phenotypic, biochemical and genomics-assisted selection methodologies are discussed as leading research components used to exploit genetic variation. Advances in phenomic and genomic technologies are highlighted as options to circumvent existing bottlenecks in phenotypic and genomic selection, and gene transfer. The prospects of further integration of these technologies with other omics technologies are also provided.

Building-Back-Better in Post-Disaster Recovery: Lessons Learnt from Cyclone Idai-Induced Floods in Zimbabwe

This study evaluated the build-back-better considerations in post-disaster recovery,following the devastation of Chipinge and Chimanimani communities by Cyclone Idai-induced floods in 2019.Conducted in 2020,the study assessed the impact of Cyclone Idai-induced floods on communities in Chipinge and Chimanimani Districts of Zimbabwe;evaluated the build-back-better considerations;and analyzed the lessons learned.Based on a qualitative approach and case study design,the study depended on focus group discussions,interviews,and researcher observations to gather data from 85 participants.The findings indicate that Cyclone Idai-induced floods seriously impacted human lives,infrastructure,and livelihoods of communities that had been living with flood risk and vulnerability.Build-back-better considerations were absent in much of the post-disaster recovery effort to address the cyclone disaster impact.There are important early lessons for both practitioners and community members to learn from the Cyclone Idai event.These lessons still can inform policy and disaster risk reduction practice in the medium and long term.Build-back-better should be a mandatory objective in the recovery from any disaster impact.Continuous training is also recommended to improve the disaster knowledge of stakeholders and increase local ability to cope with future disaster events.