relation: http://oar.icrisat.org/7064/ title: Development of a pearl millet Striga-resistant genepool: Response to five cycles of recurrent selection under Striga-infested field conditions in West Africa creator: Kountche, B A creator: Hash, C T creator: Dodo, H creator: Laoualy, O creator: Sanogo, M D creator: Timbeli, A T creator: Vigouroux, Y creator: This, D creator: Nijkamp, R creator: Haussmann, B I G subject: Millets description: Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. is a persistent threat to pearl millet [Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone, comb. nov.] production, especially in West Africa. This study aimed at evaluating the response of a diversified pearl millet genepool to five cycles of recurrent selection targeting Striga resistance and panicle yield, and to a lesser extent downy mildew [Sclerospora graminicola (Sacc.) J. Schroet.] resistance. Two-hundred full-sib families (FS) representing the C5 selection cycle were evaluated together with the genepool parental landraces, experimental varieties derived from previous cycles and local checks in Striga-infested fields at Sadoré (Niger) and Cinzana (Mali). Substantial and mostly significant selection progress could be documented. The accumulated percentage gain from selection amounted to 51%/1% lower Striga infestation (measured by area under Striga number progress curve, ASNPC), 46%/62% lower downy mildew incidence, and 49%/31% higher panicle yield of the C5-FS compared to the mean of the genepool parents at Sadoré/Cinzana, respectively. Experimental varieties selected from previous cycles also revealed lower ASNPC and mostly higher yield compared to genepool parents at their selection sites. Significant genetic variation among the C5-FS and operative heritabilities of 76% (Cinzana), 84% (Sadoré) and 34% (combined across locations) for ASNPC will enable continued selection gain for Striga resistance. High genotype × environment interaction variances for all target traits suggest that different experimental varieties need to be extracted from the genepool for different sites. The genepool-derived varieties will be further validated on-farm and are expected to contribute to integrated Striga control in pearl millet in West Africa. publisher: Elsevier date: 2013 type: Article type: PeerReviewed format: application/pdf language: en identifier: http://oar.icrisat.org/7064/7/Field%20Crops%20Research_154_82-90_2013.pdf identifier: Kountche, B A and Hash, C T and Dodo, H and Laoualy, O and Sanogo, M D and Timbeli, A T and Vigouroux, Y and This, D and Nijkamp, R and Haussmann, B I G (2013) Development of a pearl millet Striga-resistant genepool: Response to five cycles of recurrent selection under Striga-infested field conditions in West Africa. Field Crops Research, 154. pp. 82-90. ISSN 0378-4290 relation: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2013.07.008