b'In Californias Central Valley, root-knot nematodes, aphids, lygus and Fusarium wilt diseases are prevalent, causing signifi-Where Theyre Winning cant reductions in yield and quality of standard cultivars. Our cowpea breeding program aims to develop new improved varieties with multiple resistance, Huynh says. This effort is enabled by the rich collection of resources developed over years here. They include pest biotype collections, field- and lab-based resistance bioassays, genetic markers and germplasm collections of host crop genetic diversity.Huynh says resistant genes from African cowpea germplasm are stacked into new generations using bi-parental and multi-parental marker-assisted breeding strategies. Our research shows that while biotic resistance in cowpea typically involves major genes, drought tolerance is affected by multiple loci with minor effects, he explains. This genetic com-plexity plus variable drought conditions form the biggest breed-ing challenges to make advances in drought tolerance. Sorghum:U.S., Africa, India Nevertheless, new improved varieties already have been Kernza:U.S. Midwest released in the United States and West Africa. Huynh adds, we are hopeful that in five to 10 years and beyond, on-farm cowpea Maize:Sub-Saharan Africa yields will be improved significantly in the presence of drought Cowpea:West Africa, U.S. and other biotic and abiotic stresses.Rice:Southeast Asia, Arkansas Rice: Built to Thrive Where Freshwater FadesWhile irrigation is an important way to handle a drought, its causing soil salinity issues in rice fields around the world. Globally, most public and private rice breeding efforts are now focused on abiotic stress, including drought and salt toler-ance, says University of Arkansas professor of rice breeding and genetics Christian De Guzman. Each abiotic stress tolerance breeding effort will usually focus on the target environment such as rain-fed irrigated rice for drought tolerance and production in areas with salt intrusions near the coasts or soil with high salinity.De Guzman and his colleagues are currently working on iden-tifying rice types that experience minimal impact on yield under drought conditions and incorporating that trait into elite lines. Hes happy to share that there is clear progress in breeding for drought- and salt tolerance, but at the same time there is a big challenge. That is, most rice types with tolerance to drought and salt are non-adapted, so its not easy to find ways to transfer the trait rapidly to elite lines without dragging undesirable traits from exotic germplasm.I imagine that in about five years, we will see inbred rice vari-eties with drought and salt tolerance available and used in target environments with yield and grain quality similar to modern vari-eties, he says. With continued research, in the next 10 years, we will discover newer rice types with more durable and stronger resistance/response to drought and salt tolerance. As climate volatility reshapes global agriculture, drought-resistant crops are becoming more than research milestonestheyre lifelines. Each breakthrough, whether rooted 10 feet deep or mapped in a genome, reminds us that resilience isnt just Rice breeding trials at the University of Arkansas Agriculturala trait in plants. Its a defining mission for the seed industry itself Experiment Station focus on identifying drought- and salt-tolerant a relentless pursuit to ensure farmers everywhere have the lines for future commercial release.genetics, tools, and knowledge they need to thrive when the rain PHOTO: UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS SYSTEM DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE doesnt come.SW44/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2025'