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Breeding strategy for resistance to Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze based on genetic diversity and population structure of tropical maize (Zea mays L.) lines

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Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a major staple crop in southern Africa and is produced on millions of hectares. However, its yield is greatly reduced by Striga spp. a witchweed which is causing US$ 7 billion losses annually. Use of host resistance could be an effective way of controlling Striga spp. and resistance to Striga spp. is quantitative, mainly controlled by additive gene action. Understanding the population structure and genetic diversity is therefore key in designing an effective breeding program targeting grain yield heterosis and resistance to Striga spp. The aim of this study was to determine the genetic diversity and population structure of the key germplasm from tropical Africa. This information could guide in the identification of heterotic groups and potential testers required to kick start a maize breeding program for Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze in southern Africa. A total of 222 maize inbred lines from IITA and CIMMYT were used in this study. The materials were genotyped using the genotyping-by-sequencing method. A total of 45, 000 SNP markers were revealed, and these were subjected to analysis of molecular variance, structure analysis and clustering using the Gower’s distance and neighbor joining algorithm. Molecular variance was lager within individuals (91%) than among populations (9%). The inbred lines clustered into three major groups, with the IITA germplasm clustering separately from CIMMYT germplasm. A breeding strategy for S. asiatica resistance was proposed with the aim of increasing genetic gains in both the resistance and grain yield.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) for germplasm provision.

Funding

This work was supported by the BecA-ILRI Hub through the Africa Biosciences Challenge Fund (ABCF) program. The ABCF Program is funded by the Australian Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the BecA-CSIRO partnership; the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA); the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF); the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Production Sciences and Technologies, University of Zimbabwe, PO. Box MP167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Edmore Gasura, Brian Nyandoro & Stanford Mabasa

  2. Maize program, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, PO. Box MP163, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Peter S. Setimela

  3. Biosciences of East and Central Africa, International Livestock Research Institute, PO. Box 30709, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya

    Martina Kyalo & Nasser Yao

Authors
  1. Edmore Gasura
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  2. Brian Nyandoro
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  3. Stanford Mabasa
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  4. Peter S. Setimela
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  5. Martina Kyalo
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  6. Nasser Yao
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Contributions

Edmore Gasura and Martina Kyalo generated the data, Edmore Gasura and Brian Nyandoro wrote the manuscript, Stanford Mabasa and Peter Setimela reviewed the work, Peter Setimela helped in germplasm acquisition, Nasser Yao supervised the whole work and helped in fundraising for the project.

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Correspondence to Edmore Gasura.

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Gasura, E., Nyandoro, B., Mabasa, S. et al. Breeding strategy for resistance to Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze based on genetic diversity and population structure of tropical maize (Zea mays L.) lines. Genet Resour Crop Evol 69, 987–996 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-021-01274-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-021-01274-6

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