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BULLETIN 1
ICRISAT Strengthens Global Capacity on Digital Sequence Information to Support Future-Ready Genebanks
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ICRISAT December 28, 2025
As genomics increasingly shapes modern agriculture, Digital Sequence Information (DSI), the digital data derived from a plant’s DNA, has become a powerful tool for improving how crop genetic resources are accessed and used, particularly in plant breeding programs for developing better crop varieties.
However, the rapid growth of genomic data has outpaced the capacity of many national research systems, especially in developing countries, to apply these tools effectively and responsibly.
To help close this gap, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), in collaboration with AfricaRice and Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, organized a five-day hands-on DSI training workshop from 8–12 December 2025 at ICRISAT Headquarters in Hyderabad, India.
As part of a broader capacity-building series under the CGIAR Genebanks Accelerator, the program strengthened the technical and institutional capacity of 18 scientists from 12 countries across Asia and Africa. It provided hands-on training in handling and analyzing Digital Sequence Information (DSI) and integrating genomic data into genebank databases.
Building on Dr Ndjiondjop’s guidance, participants agreed to develop a shared training agenda and establish regular interactions, committing to setup regional Communities of Practice (CoP) in Asia and Africa for sustained peer learning.
Experts from ICRISAT and partner institutions led lectures, discussions, and hands-on training, with participants applying their skills in laboratory sessions covering the full workflow from DNA extraction to high-throughput genotyping and SNP data analysis, using ICRISAT’s state-of-the-art facilities.
Participants also toured key ICRISAT facilities, including the Genebank, Speed Breeding Facility, Plant Quarantine Laboratory, Climate Change Biology Facility, and Aflatoxin Laboratory, gaining insights into how advanced research and breeding tools support the crop improvement pipeline – from germplasm conservation to farmer-ready varieties.
Reflecting on the outcomes, Dr Kuldeep Singh, Acting Global Research Program Director for Accelerated Crop Improvement and Head – Genebank, ICRISAT, emphasized that the workshop fostered sustained regional collaboration, strengthening countries’ long-term capacity to manage and utilize genetic resources.
At the conclusion of the program, two National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) Champions, Dr Jean Sangare from the Institut d’Economie Rurale, Mali, and Dr Puneet GM from the Indian Institute of Agricultural Research, India, were identified to co-lead the CoP, strengthening regional ownership and long-term impact.
Explaining the practical value of the training, Dr Damaris Odeny, Principal Scientist – Genomics, Pre-Breeding and Bioinformatics, ICRISAT, said that DSI allows breeders to identify useful traits without repeatedly accessing physical samples, reducing costs and time while accelerating breeding decisions so that benefits reach breeding programs and, ultimately, farmers efficiently.
At the valedictory ceremony, Dr Hari Upadhyaya, a distinguished agricultural scientist and former Head of the Genebank at ICRISAT, underscored the ethical foundations of scientific research, emphasizing that meaningful science must be guided by honesty, integrity, and the courage to uphold one’s convictions.
See: https://pressroom.icrisat.org/icrisat-strengthens-global-capacity-on-digital-sequence-information-to-support-future-ready-genebanks
However, the rapid growth of genomic data has outpaced the capacity of many national research systems, especially in developing countries, to apply these tools effectively and responsibly.
To help close this gap, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), in collaboration with AfricaRice and Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, organized a five-day hands-on DSI training workshop from 8–12 December 2025 at ICRISAT Headquarters in Hyderabad, India.
As part of a broader capacity-building series under the CGIAR Genebanks Accelerator, the program strengthened the technical and institutional capacity of 18 scientists from 12 countries across Asia and Africa. It provided hands-on training in handling and analyzing Digital Sequence Information (DSI) and integrating genomic data into genebank databases.
Building on Dr Ndjiondjop’s guidance, participants agreed to develop a shared training agenda and establish regular interactions, committing to setup regional Communities of Practice (CoP) in Asia and Africa for sustained peer learning.
Experts from ICRISAT and partner institutions led lectures, discussions, and hands-on training, with participants applying their skills in laboratory sessions covering the full workflow from DNA extraction to high-throughput genotyping and SNP data analysis, using ICRISAT’s state-of-the-art facilities.
Participants also toured key ICRISAT facilities, including the Genebank, Speed Breeding Facility, Plant Quarantine Laboratory, Climate Change Biology Facility, and Aflatoxin Laboratory, gaining insights into how advanced research and breeding tools support the crop improvement pipeline – from germplasm conservation to farmer-ready varieties.
Reflecting on the outcomes, Dr Kuldeep Singh, Acting Global Research Program Director for Accelerated Crop Improvement and Head – Genebank, ICRISAT, emphasized that the workshop fostered sustained regional collaboration, strengthening countries’ long-term capacity to manage and utilize genetic resources.
At the conclusion of the program, two National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) Champions, Dr Jean Sangare from the Institut d’Economie Rurale, Mali, and Dr Puneet GM from the Indian Institute of Agricultural Research, India, were identified to co-lead the CoP, strengthening regional ownership and long-term impact.
Explaining the practical value of the training, Dr Damaris Odeny, Principal Scientist – Genomics, Pre-Breeding and Bioinformatics, ICRISAT, said that DSI allows breeders to identify useful traits without repeatedly accessing physical samples, reducing costs and time while accelerating breeding decisions so that benefits reach breeding programs and, ultimately, farmers efficiently.
At the valedictory ceremony, Dr Hari Upadhyaya, a distinguished agricultural scientist and former Head of the Genebank at ICRISAT, underscored the ethical foundations of scientific research, emphasizing that meaningful science must be guided by honesty, integrity, and the courage to uphold one’s convictions.
See: https://pressroom.icrisat.org/icrisat-strengthens-global-capacity-on-digital-sequence-information-to-support-future-ready-genebanks
BULLETIN 2
Global 60-Year Study Covering 205 Countries Uncovers Staple Crops' Nutrient Use Inefficiency
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January 14, 2026
A landmark 60-year global study covering 205 countries and regions has uncovered the evolutionary patterns of nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiency (NUE and PUE) in four major staple crops of rice, wheat, maize, and soybean. Led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the study found that despite a massive surge in fertilizer application, NUE and PUE remain critically low.
The study highlights a troubling disparity. While tropical rice and temperate wheat show relatively higher efficiency, maize production in major regions like the U.S. and China is plagued by a "high input-low utilization" pattern. Notably, PUE for all four major staple crops falls below 50%, forcing crops to rely more on native soil reserves than the fertilizers applied each season.
To address these systemic bottlenecks, the research introduces a global "nutrient efficiency atlas" and a three-tier optimization framework: "crop-region-technology." Rather than simply changing how to fertilize, the study advocates for a fundamental restructuring of agroecosystems to intelligently match crops with specific climate and soil conditions. This includes implementing precision fertilization for inefficient crop-climate zones and prioritizing management resources for "efficiency sink" areas. By integrating advanced technologies—such as high-nutrient-use varieties, conservation tillage, and functional microorganisms—into comprehensive management packages, the researchers believe global agriculture can finally break the cycle of waste and move toward a greener, more sustainable future.
For more details, read the news article in the CAS Newsroom.
See https://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=21655
The study highlights a troubling disparity. While tropical rice and temperate wheat show relatively higher efficiency, maize production in major regions like the U.S. and China is plagued by a "high input-low utilization" pattern. Notably, PUE for all four major staple crops falls below 50%, forcing crops to rely more on native soil reserves than the fertilizers applied each season.
To address these systemic bottlenecks, the research introduces a global "nutrient efficiency atlas" and a three-tier optimization framework: "crop-region-technology." Rather than simply changing how to fertilize, the study advocates for a fundamental restructuring of agroecosystems to intelligently match crops with specific climate and soil conditions. This includes implementing precision fertilization for inefficient crop-climate zones and prioritizing management resources for "efficiency sink" areas. By integrating advanced technologies—such as high-nutrient-use varieties, conservation tillage, and functional microorganisms—into comprehensive management packages, the researchers believe global agriculture can finally break the cycle of waste and move toward a greener, more sustainable future.
For more details, read the news article in the CAS Newsroom.
See https://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=21655
SCIENTIFIC NEWS
Genome-Wide Association and Transcriptome Analyses Identify OsCBP606 as a Calmodulin-Mediated Susceptibility Gene to Magnaporthe oryzae in Rice
Zhikai Han, Wenyu Lu, Shengyi Chen, Qiwei Huang, Huabin Xie, Chengye Sun, Jiayang Li, Renhui Li, Xiaodi Zou, Wenjie Zhou, Danhong Wei, Chun Chen, Tao Guo, Jiafeng Wang
Rice (N Y); 2026 Jan 9. doi: 10.1186/s12284-025-00873-6.
Genome-Wide Association and Transcriptome Analyses Identify OsCBP606 as a Calmodulin-Mediated Susceptibility Gene to Magnaporthe oryzae in Rice
Zhikai Han, Wenyu Lu, Shengyi Chen, Qiwei Huang, Huabin Xie, Chengye Sun, Jiayang Li, Renhui Li, Xiaodi Zou, Wenjie Zhou, Danhong Wei, Chun Chen, Tao Guo, Jiafeng Wang
Rice (N Y); 2026 Jan 9. doi: 10.1186/s12284-025-00873-6.
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Abstract
Rice blast, caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, is one of the most devastating diseases that affects rice production globally. Identifying new QTLs or R genes for blast resistance is crucial for developing rice varieties with enhanced resistance. In this study, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify QTLs associated with blast resistance was conducted using phenotypic and genotypic data from 236 rice accessions. A total seven important QTLs linked to rice blast resistance were identified on chromosomes 1, 5, 6, 7, 10, and 12. Four main QTLs (qMZ6.1, qMZ7.1, qMZ10.1, and qMZ12.1) were key contributors to the blast resistance. Through combined analysis of differential expression and annotations of the predicted genes within qMZ12.1 based on haplotype and disease phenotype, we identified OsCBP606, which encodes a calmodulin protein, as the candidate gene for qMZ12.1. Compared with the wild-type plants, OsCBP606 knockout plants exhibited enhanced resistance to M. oryzae, while OsCBP606 overexpressing plants showed increased susceptibility. These findings highlight the critical role of OsCBP606 in modulating the rice immune response, making it a promising target for breeding programs aimed at improving rice blast resistance.
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See https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41511654/
