BULLETIN 1
From India to Saudi Arabia and Sudan: Scaling Up Zinc-Enriched Sorghum for Global Impact

ICRISAT June 13, 2025
HarvestPlus’ breakthrough collaborative work with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India on zinc-enriched sorghum is now allowing its adoption in Saudi Arabia and Sudan—two countries confronting high levels of micronutrient deficiency and food system stress. The expansion marks a critical step in scaling biofortified crops from a national success to a global solution for micronutrient deficiency and food insecurity.
ICSR 14001, a biofortified sorghum variety developed by ICRISAT under the HarvestPlus sorghum biofortification project, is a cost-effective and sustainable solution to address micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron and zinc, in India and other dryland countries. Developed through conventional breeding, the variety delivers 50% more zinc and 30% more iron than conventional varieties—nutrients essential for immune health and cognitive development.
In addition to delivering high grain yields, enhanced nutritional properties, including iron (45 parts per million) and zinc (32 ppm), ICSR 14001 also boasts a higher protein content (11.9%) and lower phytate levels (4.1 mg per 100g) compared to conventional varieties, providing more readily absorbable nutrients to combat deficiencies.
The project's success in India provided a working model: the use of public-sector research to breed nutrient-rich varieties, validate health impact, and integrate into farming and food systems. This model is now being adapted in new contexts.
In Saudi Arabia, where arid conditions limit crop options, sorghum is increasingly important for food security. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and ICRISAT are supporting national research institutions to test and adapt resilient, high-yielding, zinc-sorghum varieties using Indian germplasm. The goal is to adapt cultivation to local ecologies and practices, and reduce dependence on imports while tackling widespread zinc deficiency.
In Sudan, sorghum is a staple, but malnutrition—especially zinc deficiency—remains high. Building on India’s model, HarvestPlus is supporting CGIAR centers to introduce and multiply biofortified sorghum varieties suitable for local agroecological zones in Sudan. These efforts aim to improve both yields and nutrition outcomes among vulnerable populations.
See https://pressroom.icrisat.org/from-india-to-saudi-arabia-and-sudan-scaling-up-zinc-enriched-sorghum-for-global-impact

BULLETIN 2
Breakthrough at ICRISAT: World’s First Extreme Heat-Tolerant Pigeonpea Developed via Speed Breeding

 

Figure: Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT (second from left), flanked by Senior Scientist-Pigeonpea Breeding, Dr Prakash Gangashetty (far right), Associate Scientist Dr Shruthi Beliappa (center right), and (far left) Associate Manager Naresh Bomma in the summer-adapted pigeonpea field.
ICRISAT June 9, 2025
Breakthrough cultivar ICPV 25444, developed through speed breeding, tolerates temperatures of 45°C during summer growth. It is the first of its kind in the world, and a boon to India, offering resilience amid intense summer temperatures.
Hyderabad, India: In a significant advancement for Indian agriculture, scientists at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) have developed ICPV 25444—a first-of-its-kind pigeonpea cultivar that can withstand high summer temperatures and mature in just 125 days.
This heat-tolerant, photo- and thermo-insensitive cultivar has been successfully tested in Karnataka, Odisha, and Telangana states in India, demonstrating yields of 2 tons per hectare. Crucially, it represents a breakthrough in pigeonpea cultivation, enabling the crop to be grown not only during the traditional rainy (kharif) season but also in the extreme heat of summer, where temperatures reach up to 45°C.
See https://pressroom.icrisat.org/breakthrough-at-icrisat-worlds-first-extreme-heat-tolerant-pigeonpea-developed-via-speed-breeding

SCIENTIFIC NEWS

Integration of BSA-seq and high-resolution mapping reveals genomic regions and candidate genes controlling seed oil accumulation in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)
Ziqiang Mo, Feiyan Qi, Ziqi Sun, Li Qin, Juan Wang, Mengmeng Wang, Stefano Pavan, Guoquan Chen, Xiao Wang, Hongfei Liu, Yaojun Hu, Yuzhen Zheng, Zheng Zheng & Xinyou Zhang
Theoretical and Applied Genetics; June 17 2025; vol. 138; article 154

 

  

Key message
Three environmentally stable major QTL controlling seed oil content in peanut were identified, and their genetic effects were evaluated in near isogenic lines and a peanut germplasm panel.
Abstract
Increasing seed oil content (SOC) is a primary objective in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) breeding, meeting the rising global demand for edible oil. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping can help to identify genes underlying SOC variation and develop markers to enhance selection efficiency by marker-assisted breeding. In the present study, three major and stable QTL for SOC were identified on peanut chromosome Arahy.08, using a bulked segregant analysis (BSA) approach based on whole-genome sequencing of F8 recombinant inbred lines (RILs). The QTL qSOCA08-1, explaining 11.41–20.97% of phenotypic variation, was mapped on a 0.65-Mb genomic region. The QTL qSOCA08-2, accounting 25.57–39.40% of phenotypic variation, was located on a 1.04-Mb physical interval. Finally, qSOCA08-3 explaining up to 17.31% of the phenotypic variation was mapped in a genomic region of 1.02-Mb. The genetic effects of these three QTL were assessed using near isogenic lines (NILs), derived from residual heterozygous individuals, and a tetraploid peanut germplasm panel. Potential candidate genes within the physical intervals of corresponding major QTL were predicted to participate in the oil biosynthesis in peanut. In summary, our study provides valuable genetic resources and tightly linked molecular markers for peanut molecular breeding aimed at improving SOC.
See https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00122-025-04939-3