Increasing research impacts through low-cost soil fertility management options for Africa’s drought-prone areas

Abstract

Pearl Millet, Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br., is one of the main cereal crops in the world. Its cultivation is facing many constraints, one of which is the downy mildew. Towards resolution of this problem, 10 new mildew-resistant varieties have been created at SRA-Cinzana (Station de Recherche Agronomique de Cinzana). They were compared to theirs parents; to 3 control varieties of different susceptibility to downy mildew and to the local variety. We evaluated adaptability, potential production and mildew incidence under natural infestation condition. They have been offered to 20 farmers for appraisal and for identifying ones which serve their needs better. The appraisal criteria were cycles, yield components and mildew incidence. Farmers made characterization of each variety, identified their weak and strong points and proposed their choice. The results of appraisals showed that there were no fundamental differences between farmer’s and researcher’s selections. Significant genetic gains from new varieties compared to their parents have been recorded for productivity and mildew susceptibility. Synthetic varieties, CzSyn 03-09, CzSyn 03-10 and CzSyn 03-03 have 26 to 40% superior yield compared to their best parents. However thestay less productive than the local one. Synthetic varieties CzSyn 03-01, CzSyn 03-03 and CzSyn 03- 05, contrary to their parents, are unaffected by mildew. Non-senescence characteristics taken as a sign of a post floral drought tolerance by farmers, has been noted for the synthetic varieties CzSyn 03-01 and CzSyn 03-10. In spite of these outputs, the farmers preferred the local variety to the new ones because of its adaptability, its vigor and the appearance of its head.