Local Criteria Used by Farmers to Evaluate the Agronomic Performance and the Fertilizing Capacity of Cowpea Varieties: Diversity, Variability and Proximal Relation with Agronomic Measurements in Contrasted Sahelian Locations

When contributing to participatory research, farmers usually appreciate the performance of cowpea varieties using qualitative scores. The score they attribute to each variety are based on local knowledge. The specific criteria they individually use to attribute a score are not well described. The objectives of this work were to: 1) identify and describe exhaustively the local criteria used by farmers to measure the agronomic performance of cowpea;2) assess the variability and statistical structure of these farmer criteria across local contexts;3) and analyze the association between these farmer criteria and the classical agronomic measurement. To achieve these objectives, an augmented block design was implemented across fifteen locations in the regions of Maradi, Dosso and Tillabéri, representing a diversity of local contexts. From a set of 36 cowpea varieties, fifteen varieties were sown per location, including five varieties (controls) common to all locations. In each location, two replicates were sown in randomized Fisher’s blocks. After agronomic measurement and participatory evaluation (scoring of varieties by farmers), a group survey (focus group) was conducted in each location to identify the criteria considered by farmers to found their discretional scoring of varieties during the participatory evaluation. The analysis of the data identified, across locations, thirteen criteria defined by farmers to characterize the agronomic performance of cowpea. Some of these criteria were different according to location. Farmers ranked the three varieties with the best performance for each agronomical trait (Top 3 varieties). A comparison of the farmer ranking with the ranking based on agronomic measurements revealed similarity and complementary between both methods. This study highlighted the importance of considering both local and scientific knowledge in local varietal evaluations.

Development and identification of two novel wheat-rye 6R derivative lines with adult-plant resistance to powdery mildew and high-yielding potential

Powdery mildew,caused by Blumeria graminis f.sp.tritici(Bgt),is a devastating disease that seriously threatens wheat yield and quality.To control this disease,host resistance is the most effective measure.Compared with the resistance genes from common wheat,alien resistance genes can better withstand infection of this highly variable pathogen.Development of elite alien germplasm resources with powdery mildew resistance and other key breeding traits is an attractive strategy in wheat breeding.In this study,three wheat-rye germplasm lines YT4-1,YT4-2,and YT4-3 were developed through hybridization between octoploid triticale and common wheat,out of which the lines YT4-1 and YT4-2 conferred adult-plant resistance(APR)to powdery mildew while the line YT4-3 was susceptible to powdery mildew during all of its growth stages.Using genomic in situ hybridization,multi-color fluorescence in situ hybridization,multi-color GISH,and molecular marker analysis,YT4-1,YT4-2,and YT4-3 were shown to be cytogenetically stable wheat-rye 6R addition and T1RS.1BL translocation line,6RL ditelosomic addition and T1RS.1BL translocation line,and T1RS.1BL translocation line,respectively.Compared with previously reported wheat-rye derivative lines carrying chromosome 6R,YT4-1 and YT4-2 showed stable APR without undesirable pleiotropic effects on agronomic traits.Therefore,these novel wheat-rye 6R derivative lines are expected to be promising bridge resources in wheat disease breeding.

Agro Morphological Characterization and Evaluation of Three Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] Varieties from Zinder (Niger) for Yield and Other Variability Components

Okra, (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench), is grown as a sole crop and as a field crop in Niger. In the present study, three okra varieties from Zinder region in Niger Republic have been assessed for their agronomic performance traits. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications during the dry season 2018-2019. The following characters were evaluated: emergence;germination;boutonization flowering;fructificaion;height at flowering;height at maturity;length of the petiole;diameter of leaves;diameter of plants;number of fruits;number of fruit per branch;total number of fruits;number of branch, number of leaves;length of fruits;diameter of fruits;number of arrets;weight of fruits;weight of seed, number of seeds. The collected data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using XlStat version 7.1 and the means separated by using Turkey’s Method. Analysis of Principal components (PCA) using R software was also performed on the variables. There were significant differences for all characters except emergence, germination, diameter of plants, number of fruits, total number of fruits and diameter of fruits. The multivariate analysis by the ACP showed a grouping of the varieties in three groups. The three okra varieties have revealed good performances and could be useful for a breeding program. The study of the water needs of the varieties will be very interesting to make a better selection of the collection.