Fodder Improvement Program in the Sudan (2000-2010)

Maarouf I. Mohammed 

(PhD. Plant breeding & Genetics)

 Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC) Shambat Research Station. Sudan

Maarouf I Mohammed on ResearchGate

1. The Research Program

1.1 Introduction
Forage Improvement Program (Shambat, 2000 to date)
Development of improved grain crops has been the main focus of breeding efforts since the inception of research work in the Sudan. Little attempts have been made to develop improved forage types. A research program was, therefore, initiated with the objective of developing improved forage crops in the irrigated sector. Research funds were provided by the ARC National Program and Khartoum State
The goals targeted to achieve the program objective were:

• Development of improved versions of the local forage types
• Development of local forage hybrids.
• Introduction of improved forage materials.
• Breeding methods employed to improve forage crops included:
• Individual plant selection within local forage stocks
• Back crossing to transfer sterility factors to the local stocks
• Heterosis breeding by crossing local parents in line x tester fashion
• Screening of introduced or locally developed materials to identify elite genotypes
• Testing across environments to identify stable and adapted lines

1.2 Summery of the research work conducted under
Forage Improvement Program
1.2.1 Selection within local forage stocks
Selection within local forage stocks covered forage sorghums, maize, Lubia Afin (Lablab purpureus L. Sweet), Lubia Hilu (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) and Berseem Hijazi (Medicago sativa). Considerable progress has been made on selection within local forage sorghums and the program succeeded in releasing some of the newly developed materials. However, work on forage legumes and maize was terminated in the early stages of the research program due to lack of research finance, therefore will not be highlighted hereunder but could be traced in the Annual Reports (2000/01-2003).

• Abu Sab'in: More than 200 individual plant selections were isolated from two Abu Sab'in populations grown in 2000/2001. These were screened in breeding nurseries established during 2001-2002. The promising genotypes were evaluated in preliminary and advanced yield trials established during 2002-2003. The elite genotypes were verified under field conditions in Khartoum and Nile States during 2003/2004 season. The work has finally culminated in the developing of the first improved forage sorghum cultivar which was, later, released under the name "Kambal" (see Fig 1).

• Sudan Grass: Selection within local Sudan Grass (Garawi) population started in 2000/2001 season. A breeding nursery comprising 56 genotypes was established in 2002. Of these, 21 promising selections were identified. The materials selected were tested in a preliminary yield trial in 2002/2003. Ten selections were advanced for further testing. Of these, 7 genotypes were identified and tested under 7 environments in Khartoum State during 2003-2006 season. Depending on the results obtained, 2 genotypes were identified and submitted for release in Feb. 2009. One of these genotypes, namely, SG32-2A has been released for commercial production under the name SUDAN-1 (see doc No 2)

• Ankolib: Selection within local Ankolib population started in 2001season. More than 40 individual plant selections were grown in a breeding nursery in 2002. Seven selections were identified and tested across 11 environments (combinations of 6 locations and 5 years with different sowing dates) through the period 2003-2007. Three of the 6 locations were in Khartoum State and one each at Shendi, Hudieba and Kassla (Gash Delta). The line S.S.S.Expt was superior in forage yield to the traditional checks Ankolib and Abu Sab'in with increase in yield amounting to 86.7 %, and 25.8 %, respectively. Its forage yield was comparable to the recommended cultivar Kambal. Quality wise, it was better than the recommended cultivar in protein percentage and leafiness and excelled the check Ankolib in sugar content and digestibility. S.S.S.Expt was submitted for release in Feb 2009 under the name Alafkolib 1 )1 عـلفـكولـيب). The proposal for release was rejected (see doc No 2)

Figure 1 S.19 = KAMBAL The newly released improved AbuSabin. Kuku Scheme, Khartoum North. Sudan

Figure 2: The Author (in the middle) describing to the farmers and extension workers the merits of the newly developed fodder sorghum cultivars. Kuku Scheme, Khartoum North. Sudan

Figure 3. ‘SUDAN-1’: The newly released Sudangrass 'Garawi' cultivar. Shambat . Sudan. 2007

Figure 4: One of the improved Ankolib cultivars. Shambat. 2007. Sudan

Figure 5: S.51, selected from Garawi (sudangrass) landrace cultivar. Shambat. 2007. Sudan

1.2.2 Developing of local forage sorghum hybrids
One of the ambitious program objectives was to investigate the possibility of locally developed forage sorghum hybrids. Such endeavor has not been attempted, in spite of the immense variability among Sudanese sorghums.

• Exotic x local hybrids: In pursuing this goal, exotic x local hybrids were first attempted using females in A3 cytoplasm introduced from USA. The study was conducted at two locations (Shambat and Islang) during two years (2002-2003). The material comprised four local stocks (used as pollinators) and seven introduced genetic stocks (used as females) in A3 cytoplasm and 'Pannar 888' as standard check. Many hybrids excelled their parental lines in forage yield and some related traits. The hybrids: E-35-1 x S. 70, E-35-1 x S. 186, E-35-1 x Garawi and Dale x S.70 significantly out-yielded the commercial (check) hybrid 'Pannar 888' as well as the parental lines derived from the local cultivar 'Abu Sab'in'. The data obtained demonstrate the possibility of developing local hybrids having superior forage yield to both the introduced hybrids and the traditional cultivar Abu Sab'in. However, the resulting hybrids were late in flowering. Earliness is a highly valued character under the local production system. The exotic females were found responsible for transmitting lateness and other undesirable traits to their progenies. Based on these and other findings, the choice for developing local x local hybrids was thought crucial in developing more adapted hybrids with desirable characters that suit the local production system. This in turn necessitated the need for male-sterilizing the local stocks.

• Sterilization of local forage sorghums in A3 cytoplasm: The source of the A3 cytoplasm (eight genetic stocks having A3 cytoplasm originating from IS1112C (SC193) obtained from A3T x 398) was received from USDA-ARS; University of Nebraska. Twelve Abu Sab'in selections were identified as recurrent parents. These lines were individual plant selections chosen from a source population comprising the two major types of the local forage cultivar Abu Sab’in, known as, Alyab and Rubatab. They were variable in some characters e.g. days to flower, plant height and mid-rib color. The backcross breeding procedure was followed to transfer the chromosomes of the local stocks in the A3 cytoplasm. The recurrent parents were crossed to the A3 source followed by four backcross generations using two generations per year. 12 Abu Sab’in females closely resembling their fertile counterparts and completely male sterile were thus developed. They are expected to transmit their growth vigor, adaptability, earliness and other desirable traits to their progenies. Such traits, which are largely lacking in exotic x exotic hybrids, are highly recommended under the local production system (see doc No 3).

• Developing of local x local hybrids: The Abu Sab'in females were crossed to carefully selected local males chosen from Sudan Grass (Garawi) and Ankolib populations plus two exotic males. 87 experimental hybrids were produced and screened in a replicated nursery in 2005. Thirty eight hybrids were identified and subjected to preliminary yield testing during 2006. Twelve hybrids were chosen for advanced evaluation across four environments. They were tested against two commercial hybrids: Pannar 888 and Safed Moti; and two local checks: 'Kambal' (the recommended cultivar) and Abu Sab'in (the traditional cultivar). The design used in most trials was Alpha Lattice. Forage yield of the first and the second cut, days to flowering, plant height, regrowth ability and some quality traits were investigated. The contrast analysis across environments indicated the superiority of the local hybrids in forage yield over the existing maxima. Some of the top yielding local hybrids were also significantly earlier than the introduced ones and the local checks. The local hybrid S.148 x SG34 was the best in many attributes, outyielding the introduced (commercial) hybrids and the local checks with yield advantage ranging from 37% to 73% for the first cut and at least 149% for the second cut. It was also significantly earlier than the introduced hybrids and the local checks. It showed the best protein content (12.3 %.) and regrowth ability. A proposal for the release of the local hybrid S.148 x SG34 was submitted to the Variety Release Committee in Nov 2009 (Appendix IV). On the 1st of March 2010 the Variety Release Committee released the local x local hybrid S.148 x SG34 as the first Sudan forage sorghum hybrid under the name ‘Hagin Garawi’ (هجين جراوي). The released hybrid is expected to have a major impact on local hybrid seed industry as it allows, for the first time, production of cheap seed of better adapted hybrids.

The author inspecting his first local x local forage sorghum hybrids nursery. Shambat, 2006.

Local x local forage sorghum hybrid nursery. Shambat . Sudan 2006

Local x local forage sorghum hybrid nursery. Shambat. Sudan. 2006

Local x local forage sorghum hybrids at preliminary yield testing, Shambat 2007. Sudan

Local hybrids showing difference in growth vigor compared to exotic hybrid (2nd left). Shambat Sudan 2007

1.2.3 Introduction of exotic forage materials

• Forage sorghum
o The hybrid Safed Moti: The performance of a newly introduced hybrid "Safed Moti" was tested against 2 commercial hybrids and the traditional cv Abu Sab'in during 2001. The investigation was a part of a joint study. Safed Moti did very well compared to the checks and was released in 2003. (see the paper in Appendix IV)
o The hybrid CFSH30: The comparative performance of the introduced forage sorghum hybrid CFSH30 was investigated in seven trials conducted in Khartoum State across four locations during the years 2007, 08 and 09. Another investigation was carried in the White Nile State at the Farm of Kenana Sugar Company during 2009. The hybrid CFSH30 was tested against the standard checks: Pannar 888, Safed Motti (recommended commercial hybrids), Kambal (recommended Abu Sab’in) and the traditional cultivars Garawi and Abu Sab'in. The new hybrid CFSH30 showed outstanding multi-cut ability with average yield advantage ranging from 60% to 65% over the standard checks. Its comparatively low yield in the first cut has been adequately compensated by the multi-cut advantage. CFSH30 was 10 days earlier than the earliest check, has short stature and 9.1% crude protein content. It was concluded that such merits will contribute positively to the predominating one-cut system of Abu Sab’in. The new hybrid is more fitting to mechanized forage production system, which if adopted will revolutionize forage production in the Sudan. A proposal to release the hybrid CFSH30 for commercial production in the Sudan has been raised to the Variety Release Committee in Dec. 2009 but the proposal was rejected. (see the paper in Appendix IV)

Testing exotic hybrids, Shambat 2005. Sudan

• Sugar Drip and N 100: Nine introduced sweet sorghum genotypes (retained from the materials received from USDA-ARS; University of Nebraska) were tested against three standard checks across eight environments (combinations of four locations and five years with different sowing dates) over the period 2002-2007. Of the four locations, two were in Khartoum State and one each at Shendi and Hudieba. The checks include the traditional Ankolib, Kambal (recommended Abu Sab'in) and the traditional Abu Sab'in. The materials were evaluated for green (GMY) dry (DMY) matter yield, days to flower, plant height, stem diameter, leaf to stem ratio in addition to some quality attributes. The results obtained showed that the cultivar Sugar Drip was superior in quality attributes than the local checks with comparable or sometime better GMY. It was later in flowering than the checks with slower rate of growth. N 100 ranked second to Sugar Drip in GMY and was comparable to Abu Sab'in in forage yield, but was superior to it in leafiness, juiciness and sweetness. It was earlier than Sugar Drip and similar in earliness to Abu Sab'in during summer season. Sugar Drip and N100 showed good stability measures. They were both recommended for release for commercial production in Khartoum State. Sugar Drip was specifically recommended for production under the modern system of dairy and fattening schemes whereas N100 was considered as an intermediate choice for production under both traditional and modern systems. The proposal of their release was raised to Variety Release Committee in Feb 2009 but was rejected (see doc No 2).

• Rhodes Grass (Chloris gayana Kunth)
Two experiments were conducted during 2006-08 at Shambat The first experiment continued for two years (2006-07) whereas the second one covered one year (2007). The objectives were to investigate the performance of five Rhodes Grass cultivars (Fine Cut, Top Cut, Hay Maker, Katambora Australia and Katambora Zimbabwe) in comparison with four local cultivars comprising two perennial forage legumes: 'Berseem Hijazi', Clitoria and two annual forage sorghum varieties (Abu Sab’in and Garawi). The materials were arranged in RCBD with 3 replicates. The Rhodes and forage legumes cultivars were evaluated across 19 and 9 cuts in the first and the second experiment, respectively. The forage sorghum cultivars were evaluated for 4 cuts in both experiments. The data collected included fresh and dry forage yield, days to 50 percent flowering and plant height. The proximate analysis for neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and crude protein (CP) was carried out. The statistical analysis was performed as split plot considering the cuts as split in time imposed over the genotypes (main units). The Contrast analysis for Rhodes cultivars as group vs each of the local checks was performed.
The contrast analysis indicated that Rhodes group significantly outyielded forage sorghum in all cuts other than the first one. The Rhodes Grass also significantly outyielded ‘Berseem Hijazi and Clitoria throughout all cuts. Quality wise, the results obtained indicated the inferiority of Rhodes compared to Alfalfa (cv Berseem Hijazi). However, compared to sorghums, percentages of protein shown by Rhodes Grass in this study (11% - 13%) were quite comparable, if not better than those reported in the Sudan and elsewhere.
The results obtained in this study, suggested the validity of introducing Rhodes Grass as a new forage crop in the Sudan as it lends it self to modernized systems of forage production (mechanized hay-making system) that help greatly in boosting fodder production. Being a perennial crop with high yielding capacity, good storability and transportability, Rhodes Grass is expected to help in bridging the accidental gaps in forage production.

Rhodes Grass variety trial. Shambat 2006. Sudan

• Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)
Forage Yield: The work on Alfalfa variety testing started in 2008 and is on going. Two experiments were established. The first experiment was conducted in Jan 2008 to investigate the performance of Siriver and CUF 101 in comparison to the local check Hijazi. The second experiment was conducted in Jan 2009. Four introduced cultivars viz. SARDI10, Siriver, SuperCuf, and CUF101 were evaluated in comparison to Hijazi. The results obtained up to now indicated that the local check was superior to the introduced materials in forage yield. However, one year data is not enough to draw a final conclusion on Alfalfa yield.
Seed Yield: One of the major problems of Alfalfa production in the Sudan is the unavailability of cheap and high quality-seed. The objectives of this study were to investigate the specialized vs non-specialized (traditional) methods of seed production. In the specialized method Alfalfa is primarily cultivated for seed whereas in non-specialized (traditional) method it is originally grown for fodder and when the crop is due to breaking the farmer switch to seed production. A experiment was established in Jan 2008 to investigate the validity of the specialized method for Alfalfa seed production using Hijazi and the introduced cultivar Siriver at different levels of seed rates and row spacing. Data taking is ongoing.

Alfalfa Variety trial . Shambat 2008. Sudan

2. Summary of Scientific Achievements
2.1 Cultivar and germplasm development

1. Development of the first Sudan forage sorghum hybrid. Released by the Variety Release Committee on the 1st of March 2010 under the name ‘ Hagin Garawi ’
2. Development of the first improved Garawi (Sudan Grass) forage cultivar. Released by the Variety Release Committee in Feb. 2009 under the name: 'SUDAN-1'
3. Development of the first Sudan male sterile sorghum genetic Stocks (2004). This work was highly appreciated by the Variety Release Committee (Meeting No 1 30/11/2004).
4. Development of the first improved ‘Abu Sab’in’ forage cultivar. Released by the Variety Release Committee on Nov 2004 under the name: ‘Kambal’
5. Release of the introduced forage sorghum hybrid 'Safed Moti' (Cooperating scientist). Variety Release Committee. Khartoum (2003).
6. Development of the first improved ‘Ankolib’ (sweet sorghum) forage genotypes submitted to Variety Release Committee in 2008, (Not officially released).
7. Introduction of “Sugar drip and N 100”. Sweet forage sorghum cultivars submitted to Variety Release Committee (Feb. 2009). Khartoum. (Not officially released)
8. Introduction of “CFSH30” a forage sorghum hybrid. Submitted to the Variety Release Committee (Dec. 2009). Khartoum. (Not officially released).

Publications

1. Mohammed, Maarouf I. (2007). Potential of locally developed forage sorghum hybrids in the Sudan. Scientific Research and Essay Vol. 2: 330-337.
2. Mohammed, Maarouf I and Nuha H. Talib (2008). Heterosis and combining ability for quality traits in forage sorghum. Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences. 2: 99-104
3. Mohammed, Maarouf I. (2009). Line x tester analysis across locations and years in Sudanese x exotic lines of forage sorghum. Journal of Plant Breeding and Crop Science 1: 311-319
4. Mohammed, Maarouf I and Mohamed, Moataz A. (2009). Evaluation of newly developed sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) genotypes for some forage attributes. American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 6: 434-440
5. Mohammed, Maarouf I. (2009). Genotype X environment interaction in bread wheat in Northern Sudan using AMMI analysis. American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 6 (4): 427-433.
6. Mohammed, Maarouf I., Gamal E. Khalifa Ghada H. Abdulrahman and Mohammed I. Elmahi (2008). Improvement of the traditional forage sorghum cultivar ‘Abu Sab’in’. Sudan J. Agric. Res. 11: 25-32.
7. Mohammed, Maarouf I. (2010). New Sudangrass forage cultivars selected from the original population (Sorghum sudanense var. Garawi). African Journal of Range and Forage Science. 27: 51-55
8. Mohammed, Maarouf I. (2004). Development of male sterile forage sorghum genetic stocks in A3 cytoplasm . Sudan J. Agric. Res. 4: 89-92
9. Rashieda A. Mohammed, Mohammed, Maarouf I. Mohammed and Ahmed A. Osman (2012). Evaluation of new locally developed forage sorghum hybrids. Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (JAVS No.1. 66-77)
10. Mohammed, Maarouf I. (2010). Sorghum for feed and fodder production. A paper presented in the Regional Workshop of Optimum Industrial Utilization of Sorghum n Sudan. 19-20/April 2010. Khartoum North. Sudan
11. Mohammed, Maarouf I., Bint Wahab Abdullatif, Seniia Saleem Jabir and Osman Sa’aeed (2009). Fodder production in Khartoum State, problems and solutions (in Arabic). Fodder Crops Committee. Ministry of Agriculture. Khartoum State. Sudan.
12. Mohammed, Maarouf I. (2008). Irrigated fodders crops in Khartoum State. Alternatives and crop diversity. A paper presented in the Rhodes Grass Forum (in Arabic). Ministry of Agriculture. Khartoum State. Sudan.
13. Mohammed, Maarouf I. (2008). Fundamentals of forage seed productions. A paper presented in the Training Workshop for Agriculturists in Nile Valley & Khartoum States (in Arabic). 29-31/Dec/2008. Khartoum. Federal Ministry of Agriculture. Seed Administration. Sudan.