Exploring sequence diversity in Napier grass to fast-track forage breeding in Africa

The overarching goal of the proposal is to provide livestock farmers in the sub-Sahara geographic region with better varieties of Napier grass (Cenchrus purpureus) that will support the efficient, sustainable and resilient livestock systems. To ensure the timely development of forage cultivars adapted to specific agroclimatic conditions in a changing environment, we propose to shorten the breeding cycle using state-of-the-art analysis of the natural genetic variation in the species. Specifically, we propose to capture the maximal range of polymorphisms by whole-genome sequencing of hundreds of accessions of Napier grass with the project focus on the identification of molecular markers associated with drought tolerance, crude protein content, water soluble carbohydrates, self-incompatibility, disease resistance and frost tolerance traits. The generated data will be essential to spearhead and expand phenotype-genotype association studies by the scientific community at all levels.