3. Overview
Longest association (GR-human beings)
World population > 7 billion (Food security is issue)
In 2100 10-14 billion (Global food production?)
Plant food consumption by developing countries (> 80%)
Consumption by developed countries (< 40%)
Converted to animal sources
Increased demand
45% by 2030 (IEA)
Energy
Water
Increased demand
30% by 2030
(IFPRI)
Food
Increased demand
50% by 2030
(FAO)
Climate
Change
1.Increasing population
2.Changing diets
3.Losing land to
urbanisation and
rising sea levels
Consumption or utilization of genetic
resources is imperative for healthy
and peace full society; Noble peace
prize for Norman Ernest
Borlaug (March 25, 1914 – September
12, 2009)
7. Is definition of landraces possible?
A distinct population that lacks “formal” crop
improvement, is characterized by a specific ID with
adaptation to the area of cultivation (tolerant to the
biotic and abiotic stresses of that area), closely
associated with the traditional uses, knowledge,
habits, dialects, and celebrations of the people who
developed and continue to grow it.
A crop developed its unique characteristics
through repeated in-situ growers’ selection
and never subjected to formal plant
breeding
8. Decrease in genetic diversity to develop
improved varieties
Changing consumers’ demands and
environmental conditions
New markets or environments for food
security
Cultivars grown by farmers become
increasingly genetically homogenous
Agro-ecosystem
Potential innovation in sustainable agriculture
impacted
Consequences of landraces, if lost
9. On-farm management within the traditional
agricultural systems where landraces
developed their unique characteristics
In-situ and ex-situ conservation
Protected areas and national parks
National management plan for landraces
conservation
Agriculturists-taxonomists-conservationists
joint working closely together with farmers
Conservation of LR and CWR
12. Plant breeding
Induced evolution for the benefit of mankind using
PGRFA/gene/s as the building blocks.
Pre breeding!
Un-adapted PGR not used directly, to transfer these traits, an
intermediate set of materials is used to develop new varieties.
“Linking genetic variability to utilization” use of diversity arising
from landraces, landraces and other unimproved materials.
14. Why Pre-breeding?
Limited progress due lack of diversity: Current limited genetic
base of agriculture is apparently a threat to food security.
Reduction of biodiversity: Uniform modern varieties are
replacing the diverse local cultivars and landraces in
traditional agro-ecosystems.
Genetic uniformity: Increase vulnerability for stresses.
Effects of climate change: Search for new genes/traits for
better adaptation.
New pest and pathogen : Motivating plant breeders to look for
new sources of resistance in genebanks.
“Decision of pre-breeding is based on the expected
efficiency and efficacy of target trait/s into cultivars and
source of desired gene(s)”
15. The Gene Pool Concept
Gene pool is the total genetic variation in the breeding
population of a species and closely related species
capable of crossing with it.
Primary gene pool: same species cultivated and wild
Secondary gene pool: different species than the
cultivated
Tertiary gene pool: more distantly related
Quaternary gene pool: unrelated plant species and/or
other organism
Introgression: Incorporation or broadening of
genetic base
Wide crosses: Synthesis of new base populations
16. Unlocking genetic potential of landraces
and CWR for benefit of the society
1. Diversity assessment
2. Somatic hybridization
3. Anther culture
4. Embryo rescue
5. Marker assisted breeding
6. Mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL)
7. Introgression libraries
8. Association studies
9. Genetic transformation
10.Genome editing
11.Nutritious food security
17. Applications of pre-breeding in crop improvement
1. Broadening the genetic base, to reduce vulnerability.
2. Identifying traits in exotic materials and transferring genes into
material more readily accessed/utilized by breeders.
3. Genes from wild species into intermediate populations to
formulate effective breeding program.
4. Identification and transfer of novel genes from unrelated
species using novel techniques.
5. Non-GMO novel diversity.
Pre-breeding facilitates the efficiency and
effectiveness of crop improvement through
increased access and use of ex-situ genetic
diversity
18. Challenges
a) Lack of characterization and evaluation data
b) Knowledge of inter and intra-specific diversity
and relationship
c) Strong breeding program and funding sources
d) Research infrastructure and HRD
Use of genebank accessions in breeding
program is limited due to high complexity
of traits, time-duration, linkage of
desirable genes with undesirable ones
19. Future Prospects
Need to collect, characterize and document
landraces.
Emerging demand for novel genes for biotic &
abiotic stresses, quality and bio-fortification.
Genome mapping be utilized for crop
improvement.
Potential of genetic transformation form the
tertiary gene pool and/or beyond.
New breeding strategies and bioinformatics
tools.
20. Application of Biotech Tools
Exploration & Collection: Tissue culture, Molecular markers
Conservation: Molecular markers, Tissue culture and cryo-
preservation
Genomic resources: cloning, genetic engineering, molecular
markers
Quarantine: Molecular markers for pathogen detection
Utilization of germplasm: marker techniques, embryo rescue
(pre-breeding), cloning
Diversity analysis of Germplasm: Phylogenetic relationship,
core collection, gene flow study
DNA Fingerprinting: Germplasm identification, genetic purity,
genetic stability, identification of duplicates
Gene discovery: Association mapping, allele mining
Trait specific germplasm: Identification and validation
24. Global Genetic Bio-fortification (Plant
Breeding)
Wild wheats and spelt wheat to improve zinc and
iron. Screening of > 15,000 genotypes of wild
wheats and spelt wheat. Developed wheat high
in zinc and iron.
Indigenous wheat landraces rich in zinc and iron.
The accessions (11170, 11296, 11334,
11363, 11156, 11308, 11298, 11238,
11200, 11534, 11304, 11309, 11199,
18708, 11211, 11272, 11229, 11280)
identified better for Zn concentration
>40ppm.
Accessions (1193, 11309, 11237, 11195,
11335, 11199, 18692, 11310, 11155,
11185, 11233, 11238, 11235, 11298,
11315, 11311, 11272, 11154, 11194)
selected as high in Fe >100ppm.
Indigenousachievements
25. > 90 % untapped bio-resource
Centuries adaptation to extreme biotic and a-
biotic, promising donor
Modern breeding tools, for utilization of
untapped diversity under ex-situ conservation
New and diverse sources of variation to
develop new pre-breeding populations
Few promising wild type accessions have been
utilized for the improvement of crop plants
Pre-Breeding for Genetic Enhancement
26. Of the eight annual wild Cicer species, only C. reticulatum is
crossable with cultivated chickpea
Other species requires novel techniques [growth hormones,
embryo rescue, ovule culture, and tissue culture techniques]
Cold tolerance and resistance to wilt, foot rot, root rot,
and Botrytis gray mold [C. reticulatum and C. echinospermum]
Novel techniques, interspecific hybrids between C.
arietinum × C. judaicum , C. arietinum × C. pinnatifidum, C.
arietinum × C. cuneatum, and C. arietinum × C. bijugum
These interspecific hybrids have contributed significantly toward
the development of genomic resources for chickpea
improvement
Examples in other field crops
Pre-breeding for biotic and abiotic stresses
27. Abstract
Pre-breeding for improvement of
agronomic, quality and nutrition-related
traits along with tolerance to biotic and
abiotic stresses
Pre-Breeding for Future Climate Smart
Crops
28. Pre-Breeding: Past, Present Status and
Future Scope
Natural phenomenon continued evolution
Limited genetic variability in cultivated germplasm,
hence pre-breeding in most crop improvement
programs has a potential
Phenotyping and genotyping to identify lines with
enhanced genetic base and minimum undesired
linkage
Initiatives and Hope for Enriching Cultivated Gene
Pool Through Genomics-Assisted Pre-Breeding
29. Concluding remarks
Sufficient diversity in landraces and wild relatives
Multiple choices for genes and breeding programs
Pre-breeding activities be initiated to generate new
PGR
Useful variability to develop new high-yielding
cultivars, resistant to stresses and broad genetic base
Novel techniques for pre-breeding [5–10 years]
Genomic-assisted pre-breeding to overcome the
linkage drag and to facilitate focused transfer of useful
genes from CWR & LR for genetic enhancement of
crop plants
31. What is plant breeding?
Induced evolution for nutritious food security,
“Accelerated and targeted evolution”.
Genetic improvement of plants with desired traits
through application of genetics.
Systematic procedures to improve crop plants by
conventional as well as novel techniques.
Crop improvement is a cyclic process of identifying
new variation, crossing, selection, and fixing favorable
traits.
Fundamentally breeding is evolution by artificial
selection.
SELECTION IS THE BASIS OF ANY BREEDING
33. The 21st
century took
us from gas
lamps to
Google and
steamships to
space shuttles
And the world population
quadrupled in just over 100
years
The Recent Past –
Scientific Plant Breeding
34. Norman Borlaug, “father of the green
revolution”
Nobel Laureate
Norman Borlaug 1914-2009
One of the most
significant
accomplishments
of 20th century
science was the
development of
lodging-resistant,
high-yielding
semi-dwarf grain
varieties
35. Plants were domesticated in parallel in
several regions
Reprinted by permission from Macmillan Publishers Ltd.:
[Nature] Diamond, J. (2002). Evolution, consequences and future
of plant and animal domestication. Nature 418: 700-707,
copyright 2002.
Wheat, barley, pea, lentil
~ 13,000 years ago
Rice, soybean
~ 9000 years ago
Rice, bean
~ 8500 years ago
Corn, squash, bean,
potato
~ 10,000 years ago
36. The Challenge ….
In the next 50 years, we have to
produce more food than we have
in the last 10,000 years. We need
to find ways to employ
technology and science to
increase production to feed the
only living a hungry planet
Food security and sustainability will depend on
advances in plant-based agriculture. We need to
develop higher-yielding plants that are more
nutritious, use water and nutrients more
efficiently, and can tolerate more variation in the
environment.
38. Field-based Phenomics Research
Greenhouse System
Biotic and a-biotic
Quality and nutrition
Controlled Growth House for precise
lighting and temperature control
Feature extraction and machine
learning
Biometry and computational biology
Computer software for analyses
Multidisciplinary team for
interpretation
Controlled Environment Phenomics Facility
(CEPF)
39. Proteomics
Organisms have one genome, but multiple proteomes
Proteomics is the study of the full complement of
proteins at a given time
Microarrays are easier, and more established
It is proteins, not genes or mRNA, that are the
functional agents of the genome
Three steps
Preparation, Separation, Characterization
40. Transcriptomes
Hereditary information encoded in the DNA (or RNA)
Set of all mRNAs ("transcripts”) produced from a
genome
Complete set of transcripts for a given organism
Specific subset of transcripts present in a
particular cell type or under specific growth
conditions
Transcriptome varies because it reflects genes that
are actively expressed at any given time
41. Modern plant breeders use
molecular methods including DNA
sequencing and proteomics as
well as field studies
42. Historical way to plant breeding
Phenomics [since civilization]
Plant biology and genetics [a century old]
Molecular biology [5 decades]
Analysis of genomes [1990’s]
Metabolomics [analysis of metabolites]
Transcriptomics/Proteomics [2 decades]
GMO [2-3 decades]
Genome editing [Future hope]?
Bioinformatics [OMICS data mining & management]
OMICS coincides with dramatic improvements in
molecular biology, computers, internet
44. Genetic Modification (GM)
Elite tomato Disease resistant
plant (need not be
same species)
Elite, disease resistant tomato
Recombinant DNA (or GM)
allows a single gene to be
introduced into a genome.
This method can be faster
than conventional breeding
45. GM methods and molecular breeding
Molecular breeding
Desired trait must be
present in population
Genetic resources must
be available
Plant should be
propagated sexually
GM
Gene can come from any
source
Biosafety issues, plant
can be propagated
vegetatively
Genetic resources ?
47. Role of Bioinformatics
Software packages
Genetics & image analysis and interpretation
Simple to complex
Relationships between breeding populations
and breeding methodologies
Downstream analysis of experiments
OMICS more complex interpretations
Data standards and data bases
48. Bioinformatics and databases
Latest biological data gathered, organised and
disseminated through large databases
EBI, NCBI, Pfam, SMART, SWISS-PROT, TAIR
Information in bioinformatics databases
Sequences, structures, homology searches
Fast search engines allow access to databases
Improved tools for analysis of sequences
www.ebi.ac.uk/, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Genbank/,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/,
http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/home/home.do, www.sanger.ac.uk/,
smart.embl-heidelberg.de, www.arabidopsis.org/
49. “Omics” Overview
Analyses of plants; agronomy, physiology, genetics
Genomics; DNA markers, QTLs, Association
mapping, Sequencing, structural
Transcriptomics; set of all mRNAs ("transcripts”)
produced from a genome, functional
Proteomics; set of all proteins produced under a
given set of conditions
Both can vary because they reflect genes that
are actively expressed at any given time
Transcriptomics and proteomics are both powerful,
but are used differently, transcriptomics is cheaper
and more user friendly than proteomics
51. Breeding crops for a second green
revolution
Gene revolution
Second green revolution
Develop plants and
minimize environmental
degradation
Enhancing human health
Advances in genetics
Advancement of OMICS
Skills improvement
Robotics
Smart breeding
52. Future breeding technology?
New technologies to enhance traditional and novel
breeding techniques without diverting resources
GM varieties, Non-GM varieties
Speed breeding and pre-breeding
Gene editing and trans-genes for future crop
improvement
Genetic principles and structural genetic information
(MAS, MAB, QTLs, Association mapping, exploitation
of untapped ex-situ diversity)
Genome sequences and functional information
Knowledge of metabolic pathways
Advancing field, greenhouse and laboratory
manipulation
53. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 17
SDG, 1 January 2016.
Crop breeding are the priority areas of FAO under
SDG 1, 2, 3, 5, 12, 13, 15 & 17 directly or indirectly.
54. 1. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2019.00434/full
2. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0167855
3. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2013.00309/full
4. Increasing homogeneity in global food supplies and the implications for food security.
5. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2014; 111: 4001-4006
6. Plant genetic resources conservation and utilization: the accomplishment and future of a societal insurance
policy. Crop Sci. 2006; 46: 2278-2292
7. Barley landraces from the Fertile Crescent: a lesson for plant breeders. in: Brush S.B. Genes in the Field: On-
Farm Conservation of Crop Diversity. International Development Research Center, 2000: 51-76
8. Recent progress in the ancient lentil.J. Agric. Sci. 2006; 144: 19-29
9. Genotype by environment interactions in barley (Hordeum vulgare L): different responses of landraces,
recombinant inbred lines and varieties to Mediterranean environment. Euphytica. 2008; 163: 231-247
10. Specific adaptation of barley varieties in different locations in Ethiopia. Euphytica. 2009; 167: 181-195
11. Agricultural biodiversity is essential for a sustainable improvement in food and nutrition security.
Sustainability. 2011; 3: 238-253
12. Protecting crop genetic diversity for food security: political, ethical and technical challenges.
Nature. 2010; 6: 946-953
13. World Conservation Monitoring Centre Groombridge B. Global Biodiversity: Status of the Earth's Living
Resources. Chapman & Hall, 1992
14. Estimating genetic erosion in landraces – two case studies. Genet. Resour. Crop. Evol. 1996; 43: 329-336
15. A new plant disease: uniformity. CERES. 1994; 26: 41-47
16. Landraces: importance and use in breeding and environmentally friendly agronomic systems. in: Maxted
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17. Agricultural biodiversity is essential for a sustainable improvement in food and nutrition security.
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Further reading
55. “Selection is the basic option for
utilization of induced evolution for
healthy and nutritive food security to
ensure peace on the only living
globe"