Characterization data for the EtNAM population and Ethiopian durum wheat landraces diversity panel

In smallholder, low-input farming systems diffused in the Global South,
farmers select and propagate crop varieties based on their traditional
knowledge and experience. A quantitative integration of their knowledge
into breeding pipelines may support the sustainable intensification of
local farming. This data entry combines genomics with socioeconomics to
tap into traditional knowledge in smallholder farming systems, focusing on
durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.). Data refer to a large nested
association mapping (EtNAM) population that we developed by recombining
elite international breeding line with Ethiopian traditional varieties
maintained by local farmers. This entry carries also molecular and
phenotypic data produced on a diversity panel (DP) of Ethiopian landraces
previously characterized in four year-location combinations and published
in Mengistu et al 2016 (https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.12538). 
EtNAM lines and DP genotypes were evaluated for agronomic performances and
farmers’ appreciation in multiple locations, reveailing that gender and
location can influence farmers’ preference and that women and men farmers
can consistently identify the best durum wheat genotypes. We used this
data to train a genomic selection (GS) model with farmer scores to show
that their prediction accuracy over grain yield was higher than that of
the benchmark GS model trained on grain yield. The data was also used in a
genome wide association mapping (GWAS) and quantitative trait locus (QTL)
mapping to identify genetic determinants of agronomic traits and farmer
scores.  Our data shows that farmers’ traditional knowledge can
be integrated in a quantitative framework to increase genetic gain in
pre-breeding programs, supporting genomics-driven breeding for local
adaptation. The Rdata files contain phenotypic and molecular
characterization data for 1,200 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) deriving
from the EtNAM and phenotypic and molecular characterization data for 400
durum wheat genotypes in the Ethiopian DP.