Performance and variability of thirteen winter wheat composite cross populations (CCP) with differing cultivation histories.

Alternative breeding approaches in organic agriculture have started to address pressing issues such as the lack of appropriate plant varieties particularly suited to cope with higher biotic and abiotic stresses, generally found in low-input and organic production systems. This challenge, coupled with the additional pressure of loss of plant genetic diversity, has driven novel breeding approaches such as Composite Cross Populations (CCPs) and other genotype mixtures, thereby increasing both intra- and inter-varietal diversity. This High genetic Diversity (Hi-D) approach is relevant to organic agricultural systems for two reasons; firstly the availability of diverse germplasm improves chances of finding germplasm suited for low-input conditions as found in organic agriculture. Secondly, the comparatively large environmental variability in organic systems needs to be buffered with higher levels of in-field diversity. COBRA (Coordinating Organic plant BReeding Activities for Diversity) aims to support and develop plant breeding and seed production in Europe by increasing the use of plant material with High genetic Diversity (Hi-D) through coordinating, linking and expanding existing breeding and research in cereals (wheat and barley) and grain legumes (pea and faba bean)

Vergleich der Adaptation von Winterweizenpopulationen mit unterschiedlichem Anbauhintergrund

Thirteen winter wheat composite cross populations originating from one population but with differing histories over six years and three reference varieties were compared for yield, disease occurrence, as well as phenotypic diversity. The populations performed similarly and often better than the reference varieties in terms of yield and had lower incidence of disease. The populations are also phenotypically diverse and differ among each other, indicating that they have maintained a high degree of diversity over time and in varying locations, but most likely also diverged from each other

The effect of changing environmental conditions on composite cross winter wheat populations over six years from the F8 to the F14.

A lack of appropriate crop varieties specifically bred for the higher biotic and abiotic stresses experienced in organic and low-input systems, has driven novel breeding approaches such as Composite Cross Populations (CCPs) and other genotype mixtures, thereby increasing both intra- and inter-varietal diversity. The creation of CCPs using carefully chosen parental varieties, coupled with the ability of the populations to adapt to local environments means that these populations are well suited for low-input and organic agricultural systems (Phillips and Wolfe, 2005). COBRA (Coordinating Organic plant BReeding Activities for Diversity) aims to “support and develop plant breeding and seed production in Europe by increasing the use of plant material with High genetic Diversity (Hi-D) through coordinating, linking and expanding existing breeding and research in cereals (wheat and barley) and grain legumes (pea and faba bean)”. Three winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) CCPs were created in 2001, through collaboration with the Elm Farm Research Centre and the John Innes Institute. In 2005, seed batches of the F4 of these populations were equally divided and distributed to three additional partners (France, Hungary and the University of Kassel). In 2007, it was decided to submit one of the CCPs to changes in environments every year. A pattern was developed between eight partners whereby these “cycling” populations would be grown in a plot of >100m2 and sent to the next cycling partner the following year. The original partners (UK, Hungary and Germany) have also maintained their original “non-cycling” populations for comparison

Perceived Community Environmental Factors and Risk of Five-Year Participation Restriction Among Older Adults With or at Risk of Knee Osteoarthritis

ObjectiveOlder adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who live in environments with mobility barriers may be at greater risk of developing participation restrictions, defined as difficulties in engagement in life situations. We investigated the risk of participation restriction over 5 years due to self-reported environmental features among older adults with knee OA.MethodsParticipants from the Multicenter Osteoarthritis (MOST) Study self-reported participation at baseline, 30 months, and 60 months using the instrumental role subscale of the Late Life Disability Index (LLDI). Data on self-reported environmental features were from the Home and Community Environment questionnaire administered in the MOST Knee Pain and Disability study, an ancillary study of MOST. The relative risks (RRs) of developing participation restriction at 60 months, indicated by an LLDI score <67.6 out of a possible 100, due to reported high community mobility barriers and high transportation facilitators, were calculated using robust Poisson regression, adjusting for covariates.ResultsSixty-nine of the 322 participants (27%) developed participation restriction by 60 months. Participants reporting high community mobility barriers at baseline had 1.8 times the risk (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.2-2.7) of participation restriction at 60 months, after adjusting for covariates. Self-report of high transportation facilitators at baseline resulted in a reduced but statistically nonsignificant risk of participation restriction at 60 months (RR 0.7, 95% CI 0.4-1.1).ConclusionHigher perceived environmental barriers impact the risk of long-term participation restriction among older adults with or at risk of knee OA. Approaches aimed at reducing the development of participation restrictions in this population should consider decreasing environmental barriers