Sustainable development of palm based agroABSYSs in Sahel using innovative sex markers

The Sahel, whose population will double by 2050, faces a major humanitarian challenge with over 17 million people affected by the food crisis. The 128.5million inhabitants ofsub-Saharan countries are heavily dependent on agriculture, which is experiencing one of the mostsevere forms of degradation of plant genetic resources amplified by climate change and insecurity. In such a context, Sahel countries must develop an agriculture based on the sustainable management of agroecosystems in order to ensure the food and nutritionalsecurity of the populations. Three palm species, the Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), Rhun palm (Borassus aethiopum) and Doum palm (Hyphaene thebaica), are among the plant species adapted to the semi-arid environments of the Sahel. They are an important food and medicinal resource and generate significant incomes through associated activities (crafts, construction, firewood, etc.). In addition, these palm trees provide plant cover and are the basis of diversifiedagrosystems.
Today, palm groves are aging and threatened by overexploitation, and their preservation and sustainable development is a key issue. However, these species are dioecious, i.e. male and female flowers are borne by different individuals, and sexual multiplication produces as many male and female individuals, whereas only the latter are sought after for the production of fruits. Therefore, late sex identification (5 to 15 years after planting) and the cultivation costs of unproductive male plants are an obstacle to the development of palm groves.
The SAHELPALMS project relies on the use of a technological innovation based on genetic markers associated with early sexing of palm trees. Our team has indeed already developed such markers for the date palm, and the proposed activities build upon our previous works.
Our objective is dual:
1) To search for new sex-linked sequences for Rhun and Doum palms by exploiting genomic data and using a probabilistic tool called SD-POP,
2) To provide for the first time the proof of concept for the large-scale use of these sex markers for the early selection of female Date palm seedlings and evaluate the operational potential of this approach.
This multi-actor and trans-national project, which includes research, innovation and training components, will be developed within the DIADE unit and with partners from ISEM, LBBE, Switzerland, Djibouti, Niger and Benin. It relies upon the participation of stakeholders from the palm value chain, including farmers, NGOs and academics, and will promote experience exchange and capacity building. The project will allow to identify new sex-related DNA sequences opening the way towards new sex markers for dioecious palm species. Also, we will produce a guide to good practices for date palm early sexing, to valorise our findings.
SAHELPALMS paves the way for the development of new agroecosystems and the restoration of threatenedones,andwill contribute to reducingpovertyandenhancingbiodiversity,foodsecurity and welfare of Sahel populations.