Characterizing Durum Wheat and Barley Landraces for Target Traits in Collaboration with Partner Genebanks

Abstract

Landraces play a pivotal role in agricultural biodiversity and the preservation of traditional farming practices. These are locally adapted, genetically diverse crop varieties that have evolved over centuries through natural selection and farmer-driven selection processes. Unlike modern commercial varieties, landraces possess unique traits such as resilience to environmental stresses, disease resistance, and adaptability to diverse growing conditions. Their value stems from their ability to provide a genetic reservoir for breeding programs seeking to improve crop resilience, nutritional content, and adaptability to changing climates. Moreover, landraces often hold cultural and historical significance, embodying centuries-old agricultural knowledge and traditions. Thus, their conservation and utilization are vital not only for sustainable agriculture but also for safeguarding global food security and preserving agricultural heritage. Under BOLD project, funded by Crop Trust, a set of 48 landraces of both durum wheat and barley were selected from ICARDA genebank using the Focused identification germplasm strategy (FIGS). A round of multiplication was conducted in Marchouch despite the severe drought stress during the cropping season 2022-23. A total of 22 “best-bet” landraces were selected for each crop. In November 2023, the selected landraces were successfully shipped to our partners at EIAR in Ethiopia, LARI in Lebanon and INRAT in Tunisia. However, due to the situation in Sudan, the shipment to ARC partner was not feasible. Each partner contributed by adding one local landrace and one local cultivar to enrich the diversity of the trials and select the superior landraces over local and commercial checks. In total, 36 plots for each crop were planted in two rows of 2 m2 using an augmented design for the first season at two sites at Lebanon (Kfarchakhna and Tel Amara) and Tunisia (Kif and Mornag). For EIAR in Ethiopia, the planting of both landrace trials will be conducted in April 2024 during the main cropping season.