Sahelian zones of West Africa, sorghum is cultivated in areas characterized by harsh environmental conditions – high temperature, low rainfall and low soil fertility. The major goal of sorghum breeding programs is to develop new varieties that maintain, and ultimately increase, crop yields under these abiotic stressors. Despite many efforts and relative progress in sorghum selection, new traits related to drought tolerance are required to accelerate development of more resilient varieties to drought stress. Phenotyping sorghum landraces could lead to identify relevant traits for successful breeding program.

1. Sahelian zones of West Africa, sorghum is cultivated in areas characterized by
harsh environmental conditions – high temperature, low rainfall and low soil
fertility. The major goal of sorghum breeding programs is to develop new va-
rieties that maintain, and ultimately increase, crop yields under these abiotic
stressors. Despite many efforts and relative progress in sorghum selection,
new traits related to drought tolerance are required to accelerate development
of more resilient varieties to drought stress. Phenotyping sorghum landraces
could lead to identify relevant traits for successful breeding program.
• baCkground
- Investigating morpho-physiological responses of sorghum varieties to 3
water regimes (WW,WS1 and WS2) in lysimetric conditions
- Identifying tolerant and sensitive varieties to drought stress and the
associated traits
• objeCtives
Sorghum land-races Dawa makefo, Lepon rakumi, Fara dawa, Makafon dawa, Lan-
konsau, Macthé dakoumya, El macika, Mota fara, Ja dawa, Faran Dawa (Zer), Mota
Ja (Zer-local) along with IRAT 204 and ISS 786 (checks) were assessed in lysimetric
system at ICRISAT Sadore. In randomized complete blocks design with 6 replications,
3 water regimes (WW = well water, WS1 = early drought or drought stress before
heading time, WS2 = terminal drought or drought stress at 50% flowering time)
were imposed. The objectives were to investigate the morpho-physiological res-
ponses, select drought tolerant and sensitive varieties, and identify traits associated
to WS1 and/or WS2 tolerance. Thus, parameters like transpiration, heading time,
flowering time, seed apparition, grain filling, seed weight, panicle weight and shoot
biomass were investigated.
• methodology
- Phenotyping sorghum land-races (Durra race) for early and terminal drought
under control conditions
- Investigation roots traits and canopy response of drought tolerant and sensitives
land-races
- Drought phenotyping of mapping population (selected by INRAN partner)
including contrasting land-races
• aCtivities
- WS1 and WS2 drought stress affected significantly the phenology and agrono-
mical in traits (Table 1)
- Dawa makefo and Ja dawa revealed more tolerant to both WS1 and WS2 than
the checks IRAT 204 and ISS786 (Table 2)
- Different pattern of water use (transpiration) observed in sorghum landraces
indicating different mechanisms of drought adaptation (Figure 1)
- SPAD chlorophyll meter reading (SCMR) decreased under drought stress
(Figure 2)
- High SCMR in Mota Ja, IRAT 204, ISS786 and Faran dawa suggesting stay green
trait in response to drought
• results and main aChievements
- Early and terminal drought had different effects on sorghum land-races
- High transpiration under drought led to photosynthetic activities continuation
but exposed to dehydration while low transpiration conserved water but redu-
ced CO2 fixation
- Dawa makefo and Ja dawa revealed more tolerant to both early and terminal
drought than IRAT 204 and ISS786 (checks)
• ConClusions
- Collaboration with Kansas State University on project : Improving
sorghum adaptation in West Africa with genomics-enabled breeding
- Collaboration with INERA and Univ Ouaga on project: Improving
production, processing and market opportunities of African sorghum
varieties
- Partnership with Kansas State University on project : Improving pearl
millet productivity for smallholder resilience to climate change in Niger.
• Current partnerships and future
engagements for out sCaling
Phenotypic evaluation of sorghum land-races for early and terminal
drought tolerance under lysimetric conditions
Partners Names
Geoffrey Morris (KSU), Mamadou Aissata (INRAN), Bassirou Sine
(CERAAS), Daniel Fonceka (CERAAS), Aziz Saidou (Univ Maradi), Vara
Prasad (KSU), Krishna Jagadish (KSU), Yonli Djibril (INERA), Bassolet H
Ismael (Univ. Ouaga)
Hamidou Falalou1,2
, Mamadou Aissata3
, Achirou Falké, Harouna Abdou1
, Halilou Oumarou1,2
, Geoffrey Morris4
, Bassirou Sine5
,
Daniel Fonceka5
, Aziz Saidou6
, Fanna Assane Maina4
, Jacque Faye4
1
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Sahelian Center, BP 12404, Niamey, Niger
2
Département de Biologie. FAST. Université Abdou Moumouni. BP 10662, Niamey, Niger.
3
Institute National de Recherche Agronomique du Niger (INRAN), BP 429, Niamey, Niger
4
Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, 3004 Throckmorton Plant Science Center, Manhattan KS, 66506
5
Centre d’Etude Regional pour l’Amelioration de l’Adaptation a la Secheresse,
6
Université Dan Dicko Dankoulodo de Maradi, BP 465 Maradi, Niger
Correspondance: Hamidou Falalou, ICRISAT Niger, f.hamidou@cgiar.org