Screening Plant Genetic Resources under Organic Management for Breeding

The breeding research of pea (Pisum sativum L.) and faba bean (Vicia faba L.) crops began in 2013 because of priority for these species to be produced organically in Turkey. Nurseries were set up to cultivate landraces of pea and faba bean for regeneration, multiplication and observation of agro-morphological characters in autumn season (November 2013) at Organic Open Field Experimental Area of Aegean Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) located in the Mediterranean Region. Cowpea (Vigna unguilucata L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) trials were also included by AARI for comparing grain legume crops of organic breeding programme of COBRA (Coordinating Organic Plant Breeding Activities for Diversity) project. For this purpose, nurseries of pea (24 populations), faba bean (17 populations) and drought tolerant cowpea (11 populations) were used for single plant selections for breeding purposes. The accessions were regenerated, multiplied and conserved at the National Seed Gene Bank of AARI. In addition, trials of advanced lines of faba bean and soybean genotypes were set up in 2013. The trials of 8 faba bean and 6 soybean genotypes in year 1 showed that grain yield and some of yield components such as number of pod per plant, number of seed per pod, plant height, number of days to flowering were significantly different and superior to standard registered varieties

Screening of Soybean (Glycine max L.) Advanced Lines under Organic Management in Turkey

The breeding research of soybean (Glycine max L.) began with advanced lines of “Soybean Breeding Project” supported by MFAL-GDAR in 2013 under organic management for comparing grain legume crops of organic breeding programme of COBRA (Coordinating Organic Plant Breeding Activities for Diversity) project because of priority for this species to be produced organically in Turkey for organic sector at Organic Open Field Experimental Area of AARI located in the Mediterranean Region. Main objective of the research is screening the advanced lines of soybean genotypes under organic management to determine appropriate, adapted and stable line/s of breeding programme. For this purpose, trials of 6 advanced lines of second crop soybean genotypes were set up successive two years in 2013 and 2014 during summer season. The trials of 6 soybean lines and 2 registered varieties in year 1 and 2 showed that many lines in terms of grain yield and some of yield components such as 100-seed weight, number of pod per plant, plant height, and number of days to flowering, number of lateral branch were significantly different and superior to standard registered varieties of AARI which have been produced in different parts of Turkey mainly in Aegean and South East Anatolia Regions. Additionally, min. and max. seed protein contents of soybean lines ranged as 31.8-41.2% in 2013 and 32.9-43.1% in 2014, respectively. Protein contents were found remarkable in terms of advanced lines especially for three genotypes which were showed higher contents than registered varieties although data was not determined significantly different, statistically. It is found that there is strong possibility and encouraging results to obtain high yielding and quality soybean varieties suitable for organic farming