Ethics of Plant Breeding: The IFOAM Basic Principles as a Guide for the Evolution of Organic Plant Breeding

The basic values of organic agriculture is laid down in the IFOAM four basic principles: the principle of health, the principle of ecology, the principle of fairness and the principle of care. These principles and the consequences and challenges for the further development of organic plant breeding is discussed. It is also explained why genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are banne

Plant traits associated with resistance to Thrips tabaci in cabbage (Brassica oleracea var capitata)

Thrips tabaci is a major problem in the cultivation of cabbage for storage, as this pest causes symptoms that necessitate the removal of affected leaves from the product. Between cabbage varieties large differences in susceptibility occur. This study aimed to identify plant traits associated with these differences, in field experiments with natural infestation in 2005 and 2006. One factor affecting the amount of thrips damage was the timing of the development of the head. In an experiment with different planting dates especially the early maturing, more susceptible varieties were shown to benefit from later planting. In comparisons of multiple varieties in both years, regression studies showed that more advanced plant development in August and early September increased thrips damage at the final harvest. However, no single plant trait explained more than 25% (2005, Brix) or 48% (2006, compactness) of the variation in thrips damage. Optimal regression models, explaining up to 75% of the variation in thrips damage included Brix and leaf surface wax late in the season, as well as an indicator of plant development earlier in the season, and in 2005 also leaf thickness. The possible role of these plant traits in relation to thrips is discusse

Is co-existentie van de biologische en gangbare landbouw met genetisch gemodificeerde gewassen mogelijk?

Edith Lammerts van Bueren (Louis Bolk Instituut) gaf na een uiteenzetting van de uitgangspunten van de biologische landbouw een inleiding over de co-existentie van de biologische sector met GG-gewassen. De Commisie Co-existentie buigt zich hierover in de gewassen maïs, aardappel en suikerbiet. Men wil in een convenant duidelijke afspraken maken, maar het proces is nog (lang) niet afgeron

The organic seed regulations framework in Europe – current status and recommendations for future development

Organic agriculture regulations, in particular European regulation EC 889/2008, prescribe the use of organically produced seed. For many cultivated plants, however, organic seed is often not available. This is mainly because investment in organic plant breeding and seed production has been low in the past. To bridge the gap between organic seed supply and demand, national and European regulations define certain circumstances under which organic producers are permitted to use non-organically produced seed. While the organic sector currently depends on these concessions, they also threaten to impede a further increase in the demand for organic seed, thereby potentially restraining present and future investment in organic seed production and plant breeding. We review the current status of the organic seed regulations framework by analysing key issues such as the role of the national derogation regimes, the role of expert groups, databases and seed prices. Key points are that (a) the situation of the organic seed sector has improved over the last few years; however, (b) reporting on organic seed to the EU by different countries needs to be harmonised; (c) the success of the organic seed sector depends critically on the implementation and improvement of national expert groups; and (d) to protect genetic diversity, the use of local varieties and landraces should not be impeded by organic seed regulations

Earliness, leaf surface wax and sugar content predict varietal differences for thrips damage in cabbage

When cabbage is cultivated for storage in the Netherlands, it is usually harvested around mid-October. This type of cabbage crop may be severely damaged by thrips (Thrips tabaci). The thrips population on the plants and the more severe symptoms develop mostly during September and October. Also during cold storage symptoms continue to develop. The damage caused by thrips is due to the symptoms that develop after feeding, which are small callus-like growths that will turn brownish after some time and which may cover substantial amounts of leaf area. Large differences exist between cabbage varieties in their susceptibility to thrips damage. It is not clear whether these differences are due to resistance (affecting the thrips population in the plant) or to tolerance (affecting the development of symptoms upon thrips feeding). Further, not much is known about plant traits affecting the resistance or tolerance to thrips. In order to guide selection and breeding for resistance to thrips, this study aimed to identify plant traits causing these differences. In the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 we performed field experiments with collections of varieties differing in a number of plant traits, with earliness varying from moderately late to very late. In the field experiments we relied upon natural infestation by thrips. Several times during the period August-October plants were harvested and assessed for the amount of thrips damage and the number of thrips, as well as for several morphological and physiological traits, including head circumference, leaf thickness, developmental stage, head compactness, leaf surface wax, and Brix value as an indication of the content of soluble sugars. One factor affecting the amount of thrips damage was the timing of the development of the head. Regression studies showed that more advanced plant development at the end of August increased thrips damage at the final harvest. Other plant traits affecting thrips damage were Brix and the amount of leaf surface wax. However no single plant trait explained more than 45% of the variation in thrips damage at the final harvest. Optimal regression models, explaining up to 75% of the variation in thrips damage included Brix and leaf surface wax late in the season, as well as an indicator of plant development earlier in the season, and in 2005 also leaf thickness. The possible role of these plant traits in relation to thrips is discussed

Groene Veredeling: Lupineveredeling voor kalkrijke bodems - Onderzoek naar perspectiefvolle lijnen

Lupine (Lupinus spp) trekt belangstelling van zowel biologische als gangbare akkerbouwers die zoeken naar een vlinderbloemig gewas om hun vruchtwisseling te verruimen. In 2010 en 2011 zijn eerste verkenningen uitgevoerd met respectievelijk 30 en 57 kalktolerante witte lupinelijnen van de Deense veredelaar Jørnsgård. Sommige lijnen leken geschikt qua kalktolerantie, vroegheid en opbrengst. In 2012 kon het onderzoek onder het programma Groene Veredeling breder worden opgezet en zijn naast de lijnen van Deense herkomst ook lijnen van de Nederlands veredelaar Van Mierlo meegenomen in vier veldproeven, zowel gangbaar als biologisch. Waarnemingen zijn gedaan voor opkomstpercentage, symptomen kalkgevoeligheid, bodembedekking, plantlengte, begin bloei, vroegheid van afrijping en opbrengst. Van de perspectiefvolle lijnen zijn alkaloïdegehaltes gemeten. Op enkele lijnen na, is de opbrengst van de lijnen vergelijkbaar of hoger dan de referentierassen. De referentierassen brachten 2,2 ton/ha op en de meest productieve vroege lijnen 2,9 ton/ ha hetgeen duidt op een redelijke aanpassing aan kalkrijke gronden. De meeste lijnen lieten geen zware symptomen van kalkgevoeligheid zien

Organic propagation of seed and planting material: an overview of problems and challenges for research

By 1 January 2004, as a result of EU-regulation 2092/91 for organic farming, the organic sector needs to have developed efficient schemes to be able to use adequate quantities of organically produced seed and planting material. Market problems and agronomic problems that are related to obtaining sufficient quantities of adequate quality are reviewed. For successful production of organic seed and planting material intensive communication between and mutual commitment of farmers, traders, breeders and governmental organizations are necessary. Farmers together with traders should be involved in variety testing and in designing crop ideotypes by identifying the desired cultivar(s) and variety traits. Breeders can contribute by incorporating the desired organic traits in future breeding programmes. In addition, a great effort is needed to develop empirical knowledge and research-based information on adapting and improving cultural practices for organic seed production, developing resistant cultivars for healthy seed production, developing protocols for seed health testing, assessing disease threshold values, and designing organic seed treatments. The EU-regulation should be strictly enforced, no longer allowing derogation of the use of conventional seeds after 2003 for those crops for which diverse, high quality seed or planting material of organic origin is available. It is expected that by 1 January 2004 enough seed or planting material will be available for most crops. But continuous optimizing of organic seed production management will be required to enlarge the cultivar assortment and to control the quality of organic seed and planting materia

The consequences of the concept of naturalness for organic plant breeding and propagation

Organic agriculture is enhancing specific plant breeding activities to meet its requirements for varieties better adapted to the specific organic environment. In the past five years, therefore, attempts have been made to translate the principles of organic farming into rules, regulations and guidelines for organic plant breeding and propagation. These principles are based on the concept of naturalness, which includes three complementary approaches: the non-chemical approach, the agro-ecological approach and the integrity approach. Departing from the concept of naturalness, criteria have been developed to evaluate existing plant breeding and propagation techniques for their compliance to the principles of organic agriculture. Each of the three approaches of the concept of naturalness has major consequences. If these consequences are taken seriously, plant breeding and propagation strategies and techniques for organic farming will greatly differ from breeding and propagation for conventional farming. To better understand the choices to be made and to make them acceptable to the mainstream seed industry, it is necessary to further clarify the underlying framework. This paper provides this clarification by analysing the cognitive, emotive, and normative dimensions of the three approaches. Distinguishing the three different approaches of naturalness in organic agriculture, as well as their three dimensions, and analysing the consequences for the breeding and propagation strategies and techniques can also help to identify and prioritize short-term and long-term steps for the practical development of organic seed production and plant breeding

Groene Veredeling: Nieuwe rassen voor verduurzaming van gangbare en biologische teelt

Biologische telers hebben grote behoefte aan meer robuuste rassen. Dat kunnen rassen zijn met een brede weerstand tegen ziekten en plagen, rassen die met minder bemesting toch voldoende opbrengst geven, en rassen die zijn aangepast aan veranderende klimaatomstandigheden. De ontwikkeling van dergelijke robuuste rassen is voor de hele agrarische sector van belang. Robuuste rassen dragen namelijk bij aan verdere verduurzaming van zowel gangbare als biologische teelt. In het onderzoeksprogramma Groene Veredeling dragen Wageningen UR, het Louis Bolk Instituut en andere kennisinstellingen sinds 2010 bij aan de ontwikkeling van deze robuuste rassen. Drie gewassen staan centraal: aardappel, prei, en spinazie. Daarnaast is ook onderzoek gedaan in tomaat, lupine, kool, tarwe, ui en paprika. Eind 2014 is de eerste fase van het programma afgerond, en is een nieuwe ronde van projecten van start gegaan voor 2015-2019. Het onderzoek in aardappel (phytophthoraresistentie) en prei (tripsresistentie) loopt door, en nieuwe projecten in spinazie, appel en paprika zijn opgestart. Deze folder biedt een overzicht van de belangrijkste onderzoekslijnen

Green Breeding: Bioimpuls Programme 2009-2013 - Perspectives on Phytophthora-resistant potato varieties

The heavy outbreaks of Phytophthora in 2007, and again in 2012, reconfirmed the need for resistant potato varieties for the organic sector. Until recently no such varieties were available. In 2009 the Bioimpulsprogramme was launched to give more priority to breeding organic, Phytophthora-resistant varieties. In this 10-year programme, wild potato species are crossed with cultivated potato to develop new resistant varieties. Although this classical breeding strategy is a long road, the advantage is that you can select for multiple traits along the way. This brochure presents the results of the first four years of the programme