Utilizing Plant Genetic Resources to Develop Climate Resilient Crops
Chikelu Mba, F.C. Ogbonnaya
Abstract
The efforts to reverse the current trend of worsening food insecurity and malnutrition are confounded by the climate change-induced increased frequencies and intensities of erratic extreme weather events, which are prejudicial to crop production systems. Agriculture was founded on the artificial selection for desirable traits, which resulted in domestication. In this chapter, we provide demonstrable evidence of harnessing of heritable variations to breed resilient crop varieties. Actionable interventions include the conservation of the diversity of plant genetic resources in nature and in genebanks, their use in breeding progressively superior crop varieties and the delivery of quality seeds to farmers. Deployment of high-throughput genotyping, phenotyping, envirotyping platforms, and enhanced computing and analytical capacities and advances are shown to enhance the efficiencies of processes. In stressing the increasing importance of molecular breeding approaches, examples are also provided of the use of complementary genomics-based and physiological methods to predict accurately the performance of an individual in current and envisaged environments. The use of natural genetic diversity, genetic transformation, induced mutagenesis, and the novel genome editing techniques is also reviewed. Effective policies, strengthening support for innovation through investments in research, development and extension services are deemed prerequisites for leveraging modem plant sciences to unleash the potentials of plant genetic resources in climate proofing crop production systems.