African breeding programs leap forward by accessing new genotyping data

As breeders strive for higher-yielding, climate-resilient and nutritious crops, genotyping is intensifying the speed and accuracy of achieving breeding goals. But new technologies have often been out-of-reach for national breeding programs in developing countries.

With CGIAR Excellence in Breeding (EiB)’s strategic approach, this is changing. The application of molecular marker technologies is becoming more streamlined and cost effective. Collaboration between EiB and many African national agricultural research systems (NARS) have resulted in more routine use of genotyping tools to support decision-making – a key milestone towards greater efficiency.

Breeding pollinations can be challenging – genotyping is helping

In order to avoid self-pollination, breeders routinely practice emasculation in making breeding crosses. But with various logistical and human factors at play, accidental self- or cross-pollinations cannot be completely avoided. Apart from leading to missing breeding targets, advancing false breeding crosses can be very costly.