ICRISAT IPM project 01: Development of insect–resistant cultivars for integrated pest management in sorghum in the semi-arid tropics

Duration: 3 years (2005 –2007)

Purpose: To identify/develop sorghum varieties and hybrid parents with resistance to insect pests in sorghum with emphasis on sorghum shoot fly (Atherigona soccata), and to study the role of HPR for pest management in sorghum.

Background/description: Sorghum is the third most important cereal crop in India after rice and wheat. Grain yields on farmers' fields are generally low (500-800 kg/ha) mainly because of insect pest damage. Nearly 32% of the actual crop produce is lost because of damage by insect pests. Nearly 150 insect species have been reported as pests on sorghum, of which shoot fly (Atherigona soccata), stem borer (Chilo partellus), midge (Stenodiplosis sorghicola), and head bug (Calocoris angustatus) are the most important constraint to increase sorghum production in Asia and Africa. ICRISAT has an ongoing program on identification and utilization of resistance to insects’ pests in sorghum, with special emphasis on transferring shoot fly resistance into hybrid parents (male-sterile, maintainer, and pollinator lines for developing high-yielding insect-resistant hybrids). Studies on the effect of insect-resistant cultivars on ETLs is useful in assessing the contribution of insect-resistant germplasm in regulating insect populations, avoid excessive pesticide use, determine the levels of insect resistance needed in the newly developed cultivars, and determine the effectiveness of insect-resistant cultivars in IPM. The project will lead to development of crop cultivars with resistance to the target insect pests, which will increase the activity and abundance of natural enemies, and thus resulting in reduced dependence on pesticides for pest management. This will minimize pesticide residues in food and food-products, and reduce the harmful effects of pesticides on the environment. Several thousand germplasm accessions have been screened for resistance to shoot fly, stem borer, midge, and head bugs, and considerable progress has been made in transferring resistance into elite breeding lines. A collaborative project with the seed industry in India has been launched for speedy transfer of insect-resistant genes into hybrids parents to develop sorghum cultivars with resistance to the target insect pests.

Agroecozone(s) and location(s): Sorghum growing regions of Asia and Africa.

Expected outputs: The project will lead to the development of varieties and hybrids with resistance to insects and an assessment of the effect of insect-resistant cultivars on economic thresholds, and their contribution to IPM in SAT.

Potential impact and beneficiaries: The outputs from this project will be used by scientists, NGOs, Private seed industry, and the farmers in Asia and Africa. This will lead to increased production and productivity of sorghum in the SAT primarily by supporting the development of genotypes that suffer less damage from insect pests. Production of insect-resistant crops will avoid the need to use expensive pesticides for insect control.

Partners: a) ICRISAT, b) NARS in Asia and Africa, c) Private Seed Industry, and d) NGOs.

Development investor(s): Consortium of Public and Private Seed Industry, and Suri-Sehgal Foundation.

ICRISAT contact person(s)/principal investigator(s): H.C. Sharma (H.Sharma@cgiar.org), and B.V.S. Reddy (BVS.Reddy@cgiar.org).