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DSpace is a digital service that collects, preserves, and distributes digital material. Repositories are important tools for preserving an organization's legacy; they facilitate digital preservation and scholarly communication.

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    Analysis of natural variation for seed dormancy and preharvest sprouting tolerance in wheat
    Author(s): Ogbonnaya, Francis Chuks; Imtiaz, Muhammad; Eastwood, R.; Wilson, J.; Hearnden, P.; Oman, J.; Gatford, K.; van Ginkel, Maarten (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), 2011-08-20)
    Date: 2011-08-20
    Type: Presentation
    Status: Open access
    Oral Presentation in The 12th International Symposium On Pre-Harvest Sprouting In Cereals. Alberta, Canada 24-27 Jul 2011 Preharvest sprouting (PHS) is one of the most important factors affecting wheat quality in many wheat producing areas especially in environments characterized by late season rainfall during grain maturation and high humidity prior to harvest. In such environments, the incorporation of sufficient levels of PHS tolerance is necessary to minimize losses associated with Preharvest sprouting damage often results in down-grading of premium milling quality wheat to feed quality, which results in seriously reduced pay outs to farmers. Preharvest sprouting is a complex trait that is affected by many environmental and genetic cues. To identify loci that determine natural variation for seed dormancy and PHS tolerance in wheat, we carried out comprehensive quantitative trait loci (QTL) analyses of two BC1F7 synthetic backcross (SBLs) populations. These populations were derived from crosses involving Syn36 (synthetic hexaploid with moderate seed dormancy) and Syn37 (synthetic hexaploid with high seed dormancy) and Janz (Australian prime hard wheat cultivar, PHS-susceptible) respectively and a set of F8 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) population derived from the cross between “CN19055” (PHS-resistant) with locally adapted Australian cultivar “Annuello” (PHS-susceptible). Assessment for seed dormancy was based on germination index (GI7) while PHS tolerance was based on whole head assay (sprouting index, SI) and visibly sprouted seeds (VI), the latter two following artificial weathering in a controlled environment chamber. Genomic regions on chromosomes 1D, 2D, 3D, 4A, 5D and 6D were found to have significant impact on seed dormancy and PHS tolerance in wheat. We report for the first time identification of new loci on chromosomes 1D and 2D that control PHST. Coincident QTLs were identified for GI7, SI and VI on chromosomes 4A, 3D and 5D. Molecular markers associated with these traits explained 9 to 43% for GI7, 7 to 13% for SI and 13 to 45% for VI depending on the population. QTL associated with red grain color of Ae. tauschii was also separated from seed dormancy to develop white PHS-tolerant wheat germplasm. These results confirmed the role of major loci, including 4A and 3D that had previously been reported which that confer seed dormancy and PHS tolerance in wheat. This indicated that the QTLs found in this study are reliable, thus it would be worthwhile to target these conserved loci including the novel loci on 1D and 2D for further molecular characterization, cloning and use in breeding.
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    Feed resources for small ruminants in Yemen: Assessment and recommendations
    Author(s): Mannai, Amal; Rekik, Mourad (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), 2026-06-01)
    Date: 2026-06-01
    Type: Internal Report
    Status: Open access
    Agriculture is a vital pillar of Yemen’s economy, contributing significantly to GDP and providing livelihoods for many. However, the sector faces numerous challenges, including limited access to resources, high prices, animal diseases, and the impact of conflict and climate change. These factors, coupled with marketing challenges and the country’s dependence on imports, severely constrain agricultural productivity and food security.
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    High-resolution digital soil mapping and fertility assessment for sustainable agriculture: Taiz and Lahj Governorates, Yemen
    Author(s): Rekik, Mourad (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), 2026-07-01)
    Date: 2026-07-01
    Type: Internal Report
    Status: Timeless limited access
    This report presents the design, methodology, and technical implementation of a high-resolution (30 m) Digital Soil Mapping (DSM) initiative for Taiz and Lahj governorates in Yemen. The report integrates field-collected soil observations with open-access environmental data and machine-learning models to generate spatially explicit maps of 11 key soil fertility variables. The resulting soil maps are made accessible through a purpose-built interactive web dashboard that allows agricultural experts, policymakers, and field teams to visualize and query soil fertility data without requiring specialized GIS software. Together, the mapping framework and the dashboard form an end-to-end solution designed to support sustainable land management, crop planning, and fertilizer optimization across Yemen's priority agricultural zones.
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    Internal review of the Seed Quality Management (SQM) Community of Practice and Quality Management System (QMS) community activities
    Author(s): Jeitani, Asma; van Hintum, Theo (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), 2026-08-05)
    Date: 2026-08-05
    Type: Internal Report
    Status: Timeless limited access
    Internal review of the Seed Quality Management (SQM) Community of Practice and Quality Management System (QMS) community activities.
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    Annual Progress Review and Planning Meeting Moving further towards formalized goat value chains in Pakistan and Ethiopia through business-oriented breeder and producer groups
    Author(s): Haile, Aynalem; Getachew, Tesfaye; Rekik, Mourad (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), 2026-02-12)
    Date: 2026-02-12
    Type: Report
    Status: Timeless limited access
    The first Annual Review and Planning Meeting of the project “Moving further towards formalized goat value chains in Pakistan and Ethiopia through business-oriented breeder and producer groups” was convened on 12 February 2026 at Indus Hotel, Hyderabad, Pakistan. This four-year initiative, launched in 2025, builds on previous R4D interventions by ACIAR and ICARDA, and seeks to develop integrated goat improvement interventions and enhance semi-formal and formal trade and marketing of goats in Pakistan and Ethiopia. By embedding farmer participation in defining breeding objectives and animal selection, the project aims to achieve sustainable genetic improvement, while safeguarding genetic diversity and adaptability to local environments. The program's resilience emphasizes profitability, productivity, and populations of native under and goat in low-input conditions, thereby contributing to food security, rural livelihoods, and inclusive value chain development. The meeting was attended by scientists from ICARDA, the lead implementing agency, along with representatives from key national partners: Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), Livestock Production Research Institute (LPRI), Bahadurnagar, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences (SBBUVAS), Sakrand, and Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tandojam, reflecting a strong collaborative framework for advancing goat research and development.