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Recent Submissions
ICARDA and Japan Join Forces to Boost Food Security in Egypt
Author(s): Tamura, Masafumi (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), 2025-09-08)
Date: 2025-09-08
Type: Blog
Status: Open access
ICARDA and Japan Join Forces to Boost Food Security in Egypt.
A Cradle-to-Retailer Environmental Profile of Yellow Lentils (Lens culinaris ssp. Orientalis) as Such or Malted
Author(s): Moresi, Mauro; Visioni, Andrea; Cimini, Alessio (MDPI)
Date: 2024-12-01
Type: Journal Article
Status: Open access
This study evaluated the environmental impact of malted, decorticated, and split yellow lentils, specifically Moroccan (ML) and Onano (OL) varieties, cultivated in Morocco and Italy, using a cradle-to-retailer Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach. An analysis through SimaPro 9.5.0.0 software and the Product Environmental Footprint method revealed carbon footprints of approximately 4.5 and 3.3 kg CO2e per kg for malted, dehulled, and split MLs and OLs, respectively, representing increases of 50% and 52% compared to their untreated dry seed counterparts. The Product Environmental Footprints also rose significantly, by 50% for MLs and 55% for OLs, reflecting the higher water and energy demands, as well as additional waste generation, associated with the malting process. This study emphasizes the importance of focusing mitigation efforts on improving the agricultural phase, particularly in land and water use efficiency. While supplemental irrigation can boost yields, especially in water-limited regions, it significantly increases the environmental footprint, underscoring a trade-off between yield gains and sustainability. Consequently, the optimal environmental strategy may not involve increasing irrigation, but rather developing drought-resistant lentil varieties, which could reduce the overall environmental impact.
Genome-wide association study and genomic prediction for hessian fly resistance in ICARDA’s elite bread wheat genotypes
Author(s): Imseg, Imane; Zakaria, EL Gataa; Karima, Samir; Boulamtat, Rachid; El Bouhssini, Mustapha; Tadesse, Wuletaw (Springer Verlag (Germany), 2025-04-01)
Date: 2024-12-02
Type: Journal Article
Status: Timeless limited access
The Hessian fly, scientifically known as Mayetiola destructor (Say), is an agricultural pest that causes a substantial decrease in wheat productivity, especially in dry countries like Morocco, where it can decrease yields by about 32–36% during seasons of low rainfall. An essential method to reduce harm caused by this pest is to identify wheat genotypes that have natural resistance. The aim of this research was to pinpoint genomic regions, delineate marker-trait associations (MTAs), and identify candidate genes linked to Hessian fly resistance. We used 188 elite bread wheat genotypes obtained from the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) for this study. The Hessian fly population utilized for screening was collected from the Chaouia Ouardigha region of Morocco and evaluated in a growth chamber maintained at precise conditions. Out of the 188 genotypes examined, 66 accessions showed high resistance to the Hessian fly. We used a mixed linear model (MLM) in our genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to discover 24 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) linked to resistance to the Hessian fly (P < 0.001). The B sub-genome had the highest number of MTAs, with 14 markers related. The wsnp_BQ166999B_Ta_2_1 marker on chromosome 5B was notably significant, with a -Log10(p) value of 3.99, we also identified 18 potential candidate genes. This study successfully highlights wheat genotypes with high levels of HF resistance and notable SNP markers, offering valuable insights for upcoming breeding programs focused on wheat resilience.
Unraveling the genetic architecture of stripe rust resistance in ICARDA spring wheat
Date: 2024-12-02
Type: Journal Article
Status: Open access
Stripe rust, also known as yellow rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is among the most destructive fungal diseases affecting global wheat productivity. Identifying genetic loci associated with Pst resistance is crucial for developing durable Pst-resistant wheat varieties. This study aimed to discover genetic markers linked to Pst-resistance in wheat using a 15 K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. Field screenings were conducted over two years (2018 and 2019) on a panel of 245 wheat breeding lines developed by the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) at the Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center in Ethiopia. Importantly, 36 breeding lines exhibited consistent immunity or resistance across both growing seasons. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified 34 marker-trait associations (MTAs) across 10 loci that surpassed the significance threshold. Half of these SNP markers were located on chromosome 7B, while the remaining were distributed across chromosomes 1B, 2B, 4B, 5 A, and 6B. Many identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were in close proximity to known Pst resistance genes/QTLs, suggesting they correspond to the same genetic regions. Additionally, three QTLs—EWYY5A.2, EWYY6B.1, and EWYY7B.3—were notably distant from any of previously identified Pst resistance genes, emerging as potential novel loci from this study. These QTLs represent promising candidates for marker-assisted selection, facilitating the development of wheat cultivars with enhanced resistance to Pst. Additionally, this study recommends incorporating the 36 consistently resistant lines into national and international wheat breeding programs to enhance Pst disease management efforts.
Genome-wide association mapping and genomic prediction of water deficit stress tolerance indices in spring bread wheat
Author(s): MajidiMehr, Ahmad; Pahlavani, Mohammad Hadi; Zakaria, EL Gataa; Amiri-Fahliani, Reza (Elsevier (12 months), 2024-12-03)
Date: 2024-10-03
Type: Journal Article
Status: Timeless limited access
Genome-wide association mapping (GWAM) is crucial for identifying the genetic architecture of quantitative traits, such as drought tolerance indices in bread wheat. This study aims to identify Marker-Trait Associations (MTAs) and genes related to drought tolerance indices in wheat. Seven drought tolerance indices were calculated based on grain weight per spike under field drought stress (FDS) and field non-stress (FNS) conditions. These indices included mean productivity (MP), geometric mean productivity (GMP), relative drought index (RDI), stress tolerance index (STI), tolerance index (TOL), stress susceptibility index (SSI), and yield stability index (YSI). Genotyping of the samples was performed using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. A total of 96 MTAs were identified for the studied indices and conditions FNS and FDS in this experiment, with a threshold of -log10p ≥ 3.0. These included FNS, FDS, GMP, MP, STI, SSI, RDI, and YSI, with 15, 11, 16, 16, 20, 6, 6, and 6 MTAs, respectively. The MTAs identified for the drought tolerance indices GMP, MP, and STI were located on chromosomes 2 A, 3B, and 6 A, respectively. Moreover, this study identified four genes related to the indices, namely “TraesCS2B02G000100,” “TraesCS3A02G000100,” “TraesCS2B02G000200,” and “TraesCS4B02G000100”. These genes play a crucial role in drought tolerance and can be utilized for marker-assisted selection to enhance drought tolerance wheat genotypes.