Ongoing researchon NERICAs

Moussa Sié
Lowland rice breeder
Africa Rice Center (WARDA)
FASID, September 11, 2007

Rice production• About 80% of rice production is in the hands ofsmall-scale farmers• The region's rice yields are
the lowest in the world:
about 1 tonne per ha (5tonnes in Asia)• Today, rice is the most
rapidly growing source offood in Africa. It is grown
and consumed in about 40
countries in the continent

Rice-growing environments in West Africa:
Upland - Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) - Mangrove

Asia

Distribution of Rice Area
Upland7%

Deepwater3%

Irrigated
57%

Rainfed lowland
33%

AfricaUpland42%

Deepwater
20%

Source:
FAO, 2001

Irrigated
17%

Rainfed lowland
21%

Origin and systematic
Species of Oryza in Africa
Species

2nGenomeOrigin

O. sativa (cultivated)

24

AA

Asia

O. glaberrima (Cultivated)

24

AgAg

West Africa

O. stapfii (weedy species)

24

AgAg

West Africa

O. barthii

24

AgAg

West Africa

O. longistaminata

24

AbAb

Tropical Africa

O. branchyantha

24FF

W. & Central Africa

O. eichingeri

24

CC

E. & Central Africa

48

BBCC

24

BB48

BBCC

48

BBCCO. punctata
O. schwein furthianaa

Tropical Africa
Tropical Africa

African Rice: Oryza glaberrima• Originated in West Africa
more than 3500 years ago• Low yielding• Rich reservoir of genes forresistance to severalstresses• Taste and aroma• Rapid vegetative growth (suppress weeds,resistance to diseases and pest)• Tolerate fluctuating water depths, excessiveiron, low levels of management, infertile soils,
harsh climates, and late plantingAsian Rice: Oryza sativa• Introduced to Africa 1500 years ago by Portuguesetraders• indica / japonica subspecies classification with
continuous array of intermediates• many agroecotypes adapted
to various growing conditions• Vulnerable to local stresses• But high yield potential… progressively replaced
O. glaberrima

Water table continuum (i.e. along

the toposequence)
toposequence)
Water management continuumVF

Key development trajectory

DW

VB

Water table
EcologyUplandHydro morphic
fringes

Lowland

Intensified
lowland

Irrigated
IrrigatedlowlandMainwater supply

RainfallRainfall +water table

Rainfall + water table +unregulated flood waterRegulated
flood water

Irrigation

Guinea savanna –humid forest zone

Guineasavanna –humid fore stzone

Sudan savanna to humid
forest zone

Sudansavanna tohumid forestzone

Sahel to humid
forest zone

Drought
Weeds
Pests and Diseases
P and N deficiency
Soil erosion
Soil acidity

Drought
Weeds
Pests andDiseases
P and N
deficiency
Soil erosion
Soil ac idity
Fe toxicity

Drought / Flooding
Weeds
Pests and Diseases
P and N deficiency
Fe toxicity

Drought /Flooding
Weeds
Pests andDiseases
P and N
deficiency
Fe toxicity

Weeds
Pests and Diseases
Salinity
Alkalinity
P and N deficiency
Fe toxicity

Agro ecological zone

Mainstresses

Production risk
Production costs
Production potential
Input use
Water control
Oryza sativa (japonica)
japonica)
Oryza sativa (indica(indica))
O. glaberrima

Major problems by rice - ecosystem
UPLANDHYDROMORPHIC

LOWLANDSAHELIRRIGATED

Weeds *
Drought *Weeds Blast *N and P deficiency
ErosionAcidity/Acidity
Stemborers
Termites*

Water Control *Poor Water Control

N Deficiency ** Extreme temperat* N Deficiency* Salinity

Drought *Iron Toxicity *Stemborers *Africa Rice Gall Midge *Rice Yellow Mottle Virus *Bacterial leaf blight *Alkalinity/Acidity* Bacterial leaf blighWhere we started?
Early success came with the development of OS6,Sahel 202 and Sahel 108 which played major roles
in rice research in SSA but…
● There was limited impact due to the greater diversityof conditions in Africa• Poor on-farm performance due to susceptibility tobiotic and abiotic stresses in Africa• Therefore, WARDA explored innovative research
pathways to better cater for unique African conditions

Breeding strategy for NERICA
development
1. Basic concept- Combination of the assets of the two species
African rice (O. glaberrima) : resistance to local
constraints
Asian rice (O. sativa): high yielding ability
2. Technologies adopted- Conventional backcrossing breeding- Anther culture- Embryo rescue

NERICA is a partnership successCornell University
IRD
Gene-tagging forresistance to RYMV, AfRGM anddrought.
Genetic diversity of O. glaberrima

YAAS
Determination ofsterility genes ininterspecifichybrid riceproduction.

IRRICIAT
Development of new interspecificprogenies.
Evaluation of WARDA’s interspecifics.
Providing new interspecifics toWARDA for evaluation in SSA.

Coordination and implementation.
Technology generation,dissemination and training.

Africa Rice Center(WARDA)

Nihon University
JICA
JIRCAS
Physiologicalcharacterizationofnew interspecifics.

NARES
Development agents
Farmers
Assessment of new interspecific progenies in their own environments.
Involvement in participatory research.

Partnership with national programs
through WARDA’s research network• Screening and evaluation of the first progenies• Selected material sent to three countries (Burkina
Faso, Togo and Mali)• Shuttle Breeding: WAS122-IDSA1-FKR-2-TGR-8• Through rice research network (ROCARIZ)NERICA success: the network role
• Multidisciplinary task force mechanism of ROCARIZ ricenetwork• Acclaimed by NARS as a major strength for collaborativeresearch• Played a central role in development of lowland NERICAs• Facilitated shuttle-breeding approach to accelerate
selection• In <20 years, NARS capacity for rice researchenhancedParticipatory Varietal Selection(PVS)
Participatory approaches were key tospeeding the development, release andadoption of NERICAs

Why PVS?
• Shortens the time lag between varietal
development and release (3 years for PVS / 7years for conventional breeding)• Accelerates the rate of adoption of promising
rice varieties from WARDA• Elicits farmer criteria for choosing/adopting ricevarieties so such information is available toresearchers further refining technology

Methodology of PVS
A 3-year program
A tool for efficient transfer ofimproved rice technologies
to farmers• 1st year: farmers are
exposed to a range ofpromising cultivars (30-60varieties in a rice garden)• 2nd year: Farmers plantselections from among
previous varieties• 3rd year: Farmers adopt
preferred varieties

What PVS can showChoice criteria for men
Choice criteria for women
TillerTiller Vigor
2222302525

Frequency (%)

2015

Productivity
1520

Productivity
16
HeightVegetative
WaterTable
991215

Cycle Quality

101066Vigor
4 Vegetative
25500

Agronomic traits

Agronomic traits

2

Water TablePerformance of NERICAs at Ndiaye
and Fanaye DS (Senegal)
Lines

Mat

Yld Fan Yld Nd

Mean

WAS 161-B-4-B-1

135

10.5

6.9

8.7

WAS 161-B-2-B-1

141

9.5

6.6

8.0

WAS 161-B-9-2

140

9.4

6.6

8.0

WAS 122-IDSA-10- WAS-4-3

134

9.36.2

7.8

WAS 122-IDSA-10- WAS-1-1

138

9.0

7.0

8.0

WAS 131-IDSA-1-WAS-4-B-1

137

8.6

6.9

7.7

WAS 122-IDSA-10- WAS-4-2

132

8.2

7.8

8.0

Sahel 108

131

10.4

6.3

8.3

IR 64

138

8.1

6.5

7.3

IR 31851

130

7.6

6.3

6.9

Yield performance (kg/ha) of NERICAs
tested for salinity tolerance
Designation

Fresh
water

Salinewater

Yield
reduction %WAS 208-B-1
WAS 73-B-B-231-4
WAS 191-10-4-FKR 1*
IR 63731-1-1-1-4-2
WAS 73-B-B-231-2
WAS 122-IDSA-10-WAS 10-WAB-2-WAS 1*WAS 182-B-1-1
WAS 207-B-B-3
WAS 122-IDSA-11-WAS 8-2*
WAS 122-IDSA-10-WAS1-1-FKR 1*
IR 4630 (RES CHECK)IKP (RES CHECK)IR 31 785 (SUSC CHECK)SAHEL 108
WAS 183-B-6-2-2
WAS 206-B-1

6335
5959
5722
5470
5319
5209
5204
5186
5096
5004
4320
6061
4165
6536
4427
3703

5160
5047
5038
4819
4841
4451
4998
4858
4675
4866
3652
4683
1561
4521
416
3663

191512 NERICA
12915 NERICA
468 NERICA
3 NERICA
1523633191
1Total= 200 lines screened* interspecificsCreation of intra & interspecific varieties adapted
to lowland cultivation

Genomic composition of 51 lowland
NERICA
Donor
Genomecontent

Recurrent
parentcontent

Heterozygote

MissingMinimum

1.54

41.54

0.00

0.00

0.00

Maximum

9.09

62.12

4.55

33.85

50.77

Mean

4.09

52.14

0.54

10.46

32.78

Nonparental

Genomic composition of 70 upland
NERICACG14

WAB56-104 Het. Missing Non pa. Total(cM)

All 70 lines

Minimum
Maximum
mean

0.9
12.1
6.3

79.0
94.4
87.4

0.0
3.4
0.4

0.0
13.6
3.7

0.0
5.5
2.2

1724.6
1724.6
1724.6

7 Nericas
Other 63 lines

Mean
Mean

8.2
6.0

88.2
87.4

0.2
0.4

0.3
4.1

3.0
2.1

1724.6
1724.6

DHs n = 26)
MeanPedigree lines (n = 44) Mean

5.5
6.7

87.5
87.4

0.5
0.4

5.2
2.8

1.3
2.7

1724.6
1724.6

Identify and characterize the level of resistance of lowland andirrigated breeding lines to RYMV

Sixty lowland NERICAs and 7 parents screened

N-L-6

N-L-17

N-L-59

N-L-42

Highlights: Blast

Of 568 breeding material, 207 were resistantto blast at four hot spots in 4 countries(Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Mali & Guinea)

including 9 NERICAs:
1. WAB 881-1-10-37-18-25-P3-HB
2. WAB 880-1-38-18-8-P3-HB
3. WAB 881-10-37-18-15-P1-HB
4. WAB 881-10-37-18-24-P1-HB
5. WAB 881-10-37-18-14-P1-HB
6. WAB 880-1-38-20-23-P1-HB
7. WAB 881-37-18-18-12-P3-HB (NERICA 18)
8. WAB 450-B-136-HB (NERICA 9)
9. WAB 880-1-38-18-20-P1-HB

O. barthii, the closest wild relative of O. glaberrima, making its way into NERICA• Early maturity:
60-90 days after sowing• High tillering ability• Plasticity (rainfed-irrigated)• Tolerance to blast/drought• Very good grain yield• Long slender grains• A new hull color• Large panicles

Yields of selected rice cultivars under upland and lowland conditions
5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

0.0
LowlandUplandNERICA1 (Upland interspecific progeny)
IR55423-01 (Aerobic rice)
B6144F-MR-6-0-0 (Aerobic rice)
WITA4 (Irrigated lowland rice)
Lowland interspecific progenies (WAS191-10-4-FKR1, WAS122-IDSA13-WAS10-FKR1,WAS191-4-10)

Highlights: Varietal resistance /tolerance to stem borers•NERICAs 14, 13, 9, 6, 5 and 1 hadless than 10% tiller infestation(deadhearts & whiteheads). Of these,
NERICA 14 was rated as the mostresistant variety•Maliarpha separatella was the most
predominant species followed by
Sesamia species

Highlights: Termites
Neem oil and garri coated with furadan weremore effective in the control of termites acrossthe treatments with an attack range of 6.5 to27.5% followed by neem powder, pawpaw with
red palm oil and control
NERICA 5 was consistently better than all othervarieties across the treatment followed byNERICAs 3 and 2Microtermes was the predominant species
followed by Ancistrotermes, etc.

NERICA-L Vs. N Levels, On-farmGrain yield (Mg.ha-1)

43.5
32.5

SED

NERICA L-12
ITA 15
LIBERIA
NERICA L-42
NERICA L-41
NERICA L-60

21.5
10.5
030

100

N-Levels (kg.ha-1)

TO
N G5
ER 68
IC 1NER A 4
IC 9N
ER A 2
IC 9N
ER A 3
IC 1NER A 4
IC 4A32CG14JayaIR64-2

DW weed at harvest (g m )Lowland NERICA weed suppressiveness14020h-j

120

10080

b-j b-j60

40bbc b-d b-eb-fa0

Protein content of NERICAs
45B189, OSP

1997WS

403530OGP
252015105

Freqeuncy distribution (%)

0
7.0
45

7.5

8.0

8.5

40

9.0

9.5

10.0 10.5 11.0 11.5 12.0

12.5

1998WSOSP B189

OSP, O. sativa parent
OGP, O. glaberima parent
B189, Bouake 189

3530
2520

OGP

15
1050
7.0
45

7.5

8.0

8.5

9.0

9.5

10.0 10.5 11.0 11.5 12.0

12.5

1999DS

4035302520OSP15OGP10B189

507.0

7.5

8.0

8.5

9.0

9.5

10.0 10.5 11.0 11.5 12.0

12.5Class of protein content (%)(Watanabe et al. 2006)

Protein content of O. glaberrima
30
1997
2520

Frequency distribution (%)

15105OSR0678

910

11121314151630
OSROSR, O. sativa
Reference varieties

1998

25
20
15
1050
6

789101112131415

16Class of grain protein content (%)(Watanabe et al. 2004)

Challenges• Seed• Natural resources management• Policy• Rice expansion to non-traditionalregions• Capacity building• Climate change• Unstable environments• Doubling rice production by 2015

Seed
• Recurrent bottleneck• Need for increased farmer access toimproved seed
• Strengthen or develop nationalextension services• Develop viable private seed sectors• Improved ratio rice seed price toproduction costs for competitivenessNatural Resource Management• Soil fertility• Water management• IPM (insect pests, diseases, andweeds)• Scaling-up ICM technologies

What could be done better infuture?
• Capacity building• Characterize more glaberrima germplasm forbetter “target” crosses• Biotechnology research will help to reducethe cost of routine breeding operations inAfrica• Strengthening research on grain quality

…what could be done better infuture?
• Sharing of facilities to reduce cost and forbetter cohesion: reduce duplication costs andbuild effectiveness through collaboration• Unraveling the molecular/physiological basisof improved rice varieties• Understanding the seed / input accesssyndrome• Reducing the yield gap