Browsing by Author "Kingstone Mashingaidze"

Filter results by typing the first few letters
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Efficacy of Event MON 87460 in drought-tolerant maize hybrids under optimal and managed drought-stress in eastern and southern africa
    (Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, 2024-02-12) Caleb O. Obunyali; Kiru Pillay; Barbara Meisel; Eric N. Ndou; Kingstone Mashingaidze; Julius Pyton Sserumaga; Godfrey Asea; Murenga Mwimali; Regina Tende; Yoseph Beyene; Stephen Mugo; Emmanuel Okogbenin; Sylvester O. Oikeh
    Background: Frequent drought events due to climate change have become a major threat to maize (Zea mays L.) production and food security in Africa. Genetic engineering is one of the ways of improving drought tolerance through gene introgression to reduce the impact of drought stress in maize production. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Event MON 87460 (CspB; DroughtGard®) gene in more than 120 conventional drought‐tolerant maize hybrids in Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda for 3–6 years under managed drought‐ stress and optimal conditions and establish any additional yield contribution or yield penalties of the gene in traited hybrids relative to their non‐traited isohybrids. Germplasm used in the study were either MON 87460 traited un‐adapted (2008–2010), adapted traited DroughtTEGO® (2011–2013) or a mix of both under confined field trials. Results: Results showed significant yield differences (p < 0.001) among MON 87460 traited and non‐traited hybrids across well‐watered and managed drought‐stress treatments. The gene had positive and significant effect on yield by 36–62% in three hybrids (CML312/CML445; WMA8101/CML445; and CML312/S0125Z) relative to non‐traited hybrids under drought, and without significant yield penalty under optimum‐ moisture conditions in Lutzville, South Africa. Five traited hybrids (WMA2003/WMB4401; CML442/ WMB4401; CML489/WMB4401; CML511/CML445; and CML395/WMB4401) had 7–13% significantly higher yield than the non‐traited isohybrids out of 34 adapted DroughtTEGO® hybrids with same background genet- ics in the three countries for ≥ 3 years. The positive effect of MON 87460 was mostly observed under high drought‐stress relative to low, moderate, or severe stress levels. Conclusion: This study showed that MON 87460 transgenic drought tolerant maize hybrids could effectively tolerate drought and shield farmers against severe yield loss due to drought stress. The study signified that development and adoption of transgenic drought tolerant maize hybrids can cushion against farm yield losses due to drought stress as part of an integrated approach in adaptation to climate change effects.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Genetic trends in CIMMYT’s tropical maize breeding pipelines
    (Nature Journal, 2022-11-22) Boddupalli M. Prasanna; Juan Burgueño; Yoseph Beyene; Dan Makumbi; Godfrey Asea; Vincent Woyengo; Amsal Tarekegne; Cosmos Magorokosho; Dagne Wegary; Thokozile Ndhlela; Mainassara Zaman‐Allah; Prince M. Matova; Kabamba Mwansa; Kingstone Mashingaidze; Pedro Fato; Adefris Teklewold; B. S. Vivek; P. H. Zaidi; M. T. Vinayan; Nagesh Patne; Sujay Rakshit; Ramesh Kumar; S. L. Jat; S. B. Singh; Prakash H. Kuchanur; H. C. Lohithaswa; N. K. Singh; K. B. Koirala; Salahuddin Ahmed; Felix San Vicente; Thanda Dhliwayo; Jill E. Cairns
    Fostering a culture of continuous improvement through regular monitoring of genetic trends in breeding pipelines is essential to improve efficiency and increase accountability. This is the first global study to estimate genetic trends across the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) tropical maize breeding pipelines in eastern and southern Africa (ESA), South Asia, and Latin America over the past decade. Data from a total of 4152 advanced breeding trials and 34,813 entries, conducted at 1331 locations in 28 countries globally, were used for this study. Genetic trends for grain yield reached up to 138 kg ha−1 yr−1 in ESA, 118 kg ha−1 yr−1 South Asia and 143 kg ha−1 yr−1 in Latin America. Genetic trend was, in part, related to the extent of deployment of new breeding tools in each pipeline, strength of an extensive phenotyping network, and funding stability. Over the past decade, CIMMYT’s breeding pipelines have significantly evolved, incorporating new tools/technologies to increase selection accuracy and intensity, while reducing cycle time. The first pipeline, Eastern Africa Product Profile 1a (EA-PP1a), to implement marker-assisted forward-breeding for resistance to key diseases, coupled with rapid-cycle genomic selection for drought, recorded a genetic trend of 2.46% per year highlighting the potential for deploying new tools/technologies to increase genetic gain.