An exploratory collection of sorghum landraces was conducted across northern Nigeria to identify parental lines for hybrid development. Preliminary characterization found that landraces from the Sudan savannah zone predominantly had white or yellow grain with compact panicle forms, while those from the Guinea savannah had loose panicle forms. Of the 175 landraces collected, the most common names were Fara-Fara and Kaura. Two landraces, SorgGarki and Babbadiya, showed potential as male-sterile and restorer lines, respectively, based on grain and panicle characteristics.

1. To effectively use male–sterility inducing cytoplasm, it is necessary to
identify restorers and lines that are suitable for conversion to male sterile
lines. Progressive research has been done on sorghum landraces in Nigeria
ranging from breeding for resistance to diseases, to the development of
open pollinated varieties, however, little work has been done to determine
heterotic groups and identification of good parental lines among sorghum
landraces. Although commercially viable sorghum hybrids for West and
Central Africa (WCA) are just now available, it is only suited for a single
maturity band (100km north-south latitude) for the Guinea-race zone of
Senegal, Mali and Burkina Faso, but not available for the drier (further
North) zones of Nigeria, which grow mostly the caudatum or durra type.
Based on these experiences, the BMZ Project; 'Bringing the benefits of
heterosis to smallholder sorghum and pearl millet farmers in West Africa',
conducted an exploratory landrace Sorghum collection across Northern
Nigeria in May 2014. This is to target the main sorghum production
systems (700-1100mm rainfall) with work on Kaura-Fara grain types in
Nigeria.
• baCkground
To assess the germplasm capacity for grain and seed qualities, height and
flowering responses to serve as seed parent for hybrid development.
• objeCtives
Sorghum landrace collected were preliminary characterized for panicle
forms, grain size, plant height and days to maturity.
• methodology
 Planted on 2 rows plot at 2 locations
 Data were collected
 Genotypes desegregated and grouped based on local names.
• aCtivities
Preliminary characterization showed that most of the sorghum landrace
grown in the Sudan Savannah are white or yellow grain with compact
elliptic panicle forms (caudatum type) accounting for 46% (Figure 1), as
compared to those in Guinea Savannah cultivating white or red grain with
loose dropping panicle forms (guinea type).
Based on local names 175 Sorghum landrace collected were desegregated
and grouped into 26 Local names with Fara-Fara and Kaura as most
common generic names accounting for 30% and 40% respectively of
landrace variety (Figure 2).
During targeted testcross of the landrace on CK60A, 'SorgGarki ' a landrace
sorghum variety; characterized by white/large seeded grain with compact
elliptic panicle medium maturing was identified as potential B-lines while
'Babbadiya', also characterized by white/large seeded grain with compact
elliptic panicle medium maturing, was identified as good restorers on A1
cytoplasm system.
• results and main aChievements • Current partnerships and future
engagements for out sCaling
Result could be attributed to the fact the Sudan savannah agro-ecology
have relative low rains associated with less insect pest compared to those
in the Guinea with high rains preferring loose panicle thus avoiding grain
mould and insect damage. This implies that Sorghum hybrid parent
development should at present target, high yielding white or yellow grains
with compact elliptic panicle forms, medium height (2m) and medium
maturity (100 days), since most of the users are for food consumption.
• ConClusions
Collaboration is active with Federal Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development, National Research Institutes, NARIs,
Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, (ARCN), National
Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) Universities, States Agricultural
Development programs (ADPs) of Ministries of Agriculture and
Rural Developments and relevant NGOs.
Names of partners
 Prof D A Aba-Institute for Agricultural Research Ahmadu
Bello University Zaria
 Prof A Lawali- Usman Danfodio University Sokoto
 Prof Mary Yeye-Institute for Agricultural Research Ahmadu
Bello University Zaria
 Prof B Y Abubakar- Agricultural Research Council of
Nigeria.
 Mal Madu –Dala Foods limited Kano.
Characterization of Farmer’s exploratory landrace sorghum collections
from Northern Nigeria
Angarawai, I. I1
, Hakeem Ajeigbe1
, Mary Yeye2
, Nebie Baloua2
1, International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics Kano, Nigeria
2, Institute for Agricultural Research Ahmadu Bello University (IAR/ABU) Samaru Zaria, Nigeria
3, International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics Samanko, Mali
Email of corresponding author: I.Angarawai@cgiar.org
Figure 1: Histogram showing percentage variability in landrace sorghum
for panicle forms.
Figure 2: Exploratory Sorghum landrace collection across Northern
Nigeria.