Evidence of early genetic variation in survival and growth traits of baobab (Adansonia digitata L.)—the way forward for domestication and breeding

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningfagfællebedømt

  • Antoine Kalinganire
  • Patrice Savadogo
  • Catherine Ky-Dembele
  • David Bush
  • Ræbild, Anders
  • Abasse Tougiani
  • Alice Muchugi
  • Fatoumata Tata Traore
  • Brehima Kone

The results of a Adansonia digitata provenance and clone trials situated in Sadore (Niger) and Samanko (Mali) indicate genetic variation at both provenance level and among clones. There were significant differences among provenances at Sadore in both survival and height by age 10. Differences in survival were very marked, and suggest that provenances ranged from very poorly- to well-adapted to the Samanko site. However, height was weakly and negatively correlated to survival; possibly the trees may have grown slightly taller because of less competition. West African provenances have a tendency towards faster growth than those of East African origin, and the provenances from drier locations tend to be better adapted. While early variation among 4 year-old clones of leaf development, an important production trait, was indicated, future observations at later ages on fruit traits will be required to make valid selection decisions. The reported 10 year-old provenance variation in tree survival and growth suggest valuable gains could be made by selection of the best provenances. Further trials across a wider range of sites, representative of target planting sites are recommended. Both genebanks contain valuable genetic plant materials worth maintaining for further research and development.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftAgroforestry Systems
Vol/bind97
Sider (fra-til)1221–1231
ISSN0167-4366
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2023

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
For Sadore trial, germplasm was collected, and the trial established by INRAN (Institut de la Recherche Agronomique du Niger and the University of Copenhagen by Funds of the European Commission (EU) through the SAFRUIT project (Contract no. INCO-DEV-2005- 015465). Dr Albert Nikiema (ICRISAT) was instrumental in the establishment of the Sadore trial. ICRISAT and ICRAF helped with the maintenance of the trials respectively at both Sadore and Samanko Research Stations. CSIRO National Research Collections (Australian Tree Seed Centre) contributed in the data analysis process. Special thanks are due to Modibo Doumbia, Salia Dagnon, Segou Keita, Aminata Samaké, Daga Dembélé, Parfait Koné, Drissa Dagnon, and Moussa Doumbia for assistance in the trial establishment and field assessment in Samanko; Idrissa Habi and Souleymane Adamou for the trial in Sadore. Mr Domon Dolo (GIS Consultant) compiled the map-sites for the sampled baobab clones in Mali. Funding for further assessments and publication of the study was provided by the BMZ Funding of Genebank through GIZ. Thanks to Dr Jules Bayala and three anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments to the manuscript.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.

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