An Integrated Molecular and Conventional Breeding Scheme for Enhancing Genetic Gain in Maize in Africa

摘要: Maize production in West and Central Africa (WCA) is constrained by a wide range of interacting stresses that keep productivity below potential yields. Among the many problems afflicting maize WCA, drought, foliar diseases, parasitic weeds are most critical. Several decades efforts devoted to genetic improvement have resulted remarkable gain, leading increased yields on farmers' fields. The revolution unfolding areas genomics, bioinformatics, phenomics generating innovative tools, resources, technologies for transforming crop breeding programs. It envisaged such tools will be integrated within programs, thereby advancing these programs addressing current future challenges. Accordingly, program International Institute Tropical Agriculture (IITA) undergoing process modernization through introduction new schemes expected enhance gains impact smallholder farmers region. Genomic enable dissections complex traits promote an understanding physiological basis key agronomic nutritional quality traits. Marker-aided selection genome-wide being implemented accelerate gain relating yield, resilience, quality. Therefore, strategies effectively combine genotypic information with data from field phenotyping laboratory-based analysis currently optimized. Molecular breeding, guided methodically defined product profiles tailored different agroecological zones conditions climate change, supported state-of-the-art decision-making pivotal advancement modern, genomics-aided Accelerated turn, catalyzes faster variety replacement rate. critical forge strengthen partnerships enhancing impacts products livelihood. IITA has well-established channels delivering its research products/technologies partner organizations further testing, multiplication, dissemination across various countries subregion. Capacity building national agricultural system (NARS) facilitate smooth transfer best practices partners.