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Note, participants are assumed to be speaking on their own behalf, unless they state otherwise.]

-----Original Message-----
From: Biotech-Mod2
Sent: 16 March 2007 09:42
To: 'biotech-room2@mailserv.fao.org'
Subject: 35: Breeding for high water use efficiency (WUE)

I am Janaki Krishna from India again.

A very interesting discussion is continuing with regard to various applications of biotechnology in coping with water scarcity in agriculture. For breeding crop varieties that could grow in water-limited conditions, a major thrust should be given to the development of crop varieties with high water use efficiency (WUE) - through either conventional breeding or molecular breeding. In dealing with WUE, a quantitative trait locus (QTL) based approach can also be followed. Since Harvest Index is also taken care while calculating WUE the yield component is also taken care. Whether to seek for a conventional or biotechnology-based approach depends on case-by-case since many factors like the availability of crop genetic diversity, the costs, infrastructure and expertise etc have to be looked into. However, while dealing with WUE in crops, a multi-disciplinary team consisting of molecular biologists, plant physiologists, geneticists, plant breeders and agronomists can deliver the product in a much more effective way than solely by the molecular biologists/breeders.

Also, I agree with Dilip Kumar Paul's message (no. 17) from India. There are a number of crop varieties that are already developed for high WUE / drought tolerance through conventional methods. A re-look should be given before opting for hardcore biotechnological options in these crops. Crop diversification and promotion of varieties that are relatively drought tolerant should be given major thrust. Some of the minor millets like horsegram, pearl millet etc. are relatively tolerant to drought. These crops should be promoted as subsistent crops and the genomic studies in these crops might open up some avenues for tackling the water use efficiency.

Dr (Mrs) P S Janaki Krishna,
Subject Expert (Biotechnology)
Biotechnology Unit,
Institute of Public Enterprise
Osmania University Campus
Hyderabad - 500 007,
India
jankrisp (at) yahoo.com

["Pearl millet is the fifth most important cereal crop, and most important millet (>55% of global millet production), grown in over 40 countries, predominantly in Africa and Asia, as a staple food grain and source of feed, fodder, fuel and construction material in the hottest, driest, semi-arid and arid regions where rainfed agriculture is practiced. It is cultivated in 29 million ha, supporting >100 million people—the poorest of the poor; most important to national food security in Namibia and Niger; the major producing countries are Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, and India. It is also grown in Oceania and the Americas, predominantly as a forage and/or mulch component of minimum tillage-based cropping systems" (The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, http://www.icrisat.org/PearlMillet/PearlMillet.htm) ...Moderator].

-----Original Message-----
From: Biotech-Mod2
Sent: 16 March 2007 10:13
To: 'biotech-room2@mailserv.fao.org'
Subject: 36: Mycorrhizal fungi / Wastewater treatment / Livestock

I am Janaki Krishna from India again. I would like to express my opinion on some of the other issues raised in Section 6 of the Background Document.

There exists a number of other biotechnological tools for improving the efficacy of water use, like applying the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) technology. In horticulture and forestry, besides applying AMF as biofertilisers, the application of AMF can greatly help in increasing the efficiency of water use especially when applied together with other beneficial microorganisms such as Rhizobium, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and phosphate solubilising bacteria or when combined with cheap sources of phosphorus such as rock phosphate.

With regard to recycling of water or wastewater treatment, bioremediation can be promoted for obtaining potable water. However, in some of the developing countries these technologies are not practiced yet due to the prohibitive costs of technology. Hence lot of thrust should be given to develop and promote feasible and cost effective technologies in this area.

Livestock forms an integrated component in agriculture. In times of crop failure during earlier times farmers used to depend on livestock. However, the present day situation in many developing countries is that farmers are forced to sell their livestock as they could not feed them enough due to water scarcity. Since it is also an equally important area to deal with, experts in livestock may please throw some light on how to improve the livestock situation in water scarce conditions.

Dr (Mrs) P S Janaki Krishna,
Subject Expert (Biotechnology)
Biotechnology Unit,
Institute of Public Enterprise
Osmania University Campus
Hyderabad - 500 007,
India
jankrisp (at) yahoo.com

[For more background on use of combined inoculations with the three types of microorganisms mentioned in the first paragraph, see e.g. Requena et al (1997). Interactions between plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and Rhizobium spp. in the rhizosphere of Anthyllis cytisoides, a model legume for revegetation in mediterranean semi-arid ecosystems. New Phytologist, 136, 667-677 - http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/toc/nph/136/4 ...Moderator].