ICRISAT Develops Climate-Proof Crop Varieties

Plant breeders from all over the world are working to develop crop varieties that can withstand the effects of climate change. At the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), researchers are focusing on the development of climate-proof crops that are important for the livelihoods of the people in the dryland areas. They have already made significant progress. Scientists have developed pearl millet hybrids and varieties that are able to flower and set seeds at temperatures more than 42°C, in areas such as Western Rajasthan and Gujarat in India. Improved sorghum lines have also been developed that are capable of producing good yields in temperatures of 42°C, and have stay-green traits that can enhance terminal drought tolerance. Drought-tolerant groundnut varieties developed by ICRISAT are now replacing more susceptible popular varieties in India. They have also developed cowpea varieties that can be grown in areas with higher temperatures during heat-sensitive pod filling stage.

For more information, read http://www.icrisat.org/Media/2009/media11.htm