The Critical Point of Conventionally Bred Soft Wheat Varieties in Organic Farming Systems

Nowdays, wheat is the most important crop for organic farming system. However, the varieties breeded and tested in the conditions of organic farming system are still missing. It gives rise to very low level of yield in the Czech Republic (less than 50% of level of convention one in the same conditions). One of the reasons is that the ideotype of organic breeded variety is different from conventional one. The varieties suitable for organic farming system differ in many respects from those adopted in conventional farming. The first difference is obvious from the conventional tests of use value of the varieties, taking just some direct indicators influencing the main parameter (yield) into account. Generally speaking, the features to be tested can be divided into 4 groups: the morphological, the biological, the economic and quality parameters. The conventional varieties are bred in conditions characterised by an abundance of soluble nutrients, and therefore, their root systems are not adapted to an insufficiency of nutrients or weaker bonding of nutrients. The competitiveness to weeds has also been ignored. Any conventional variety, which has never confronted any strong weeds during the breeding process, cannot be assumed to be competitive enough in the conditions of an organic agroecosystem. Resistance to diseases and pests can be similarly characterised. The variety is protected by pesticides throughout the conventional breeding process. Because of the seasonal fluctuations in weather, we need a plastic and flexible variety. They are also different from the point of view of their qualitative parameters

Genetic resources of hulled wheat species in Czech organic farming

As organic farmers are searching for new market and sale opportunities, the organic farming system may grow and process a wider range of species than the conventional farming system. Concerning wheat especially the hulled wheat species einkorn, emmer wheat and spelt wheat are in recent years of growing interest for organic farmers. Field trials were carried out at three Czech locations from 2009 to 2010 to study the performance of 4 einkorn, 8 emmer wheat and 7 spelt wheat accessions. All trials were spring sown and bread wheat variety SW Kadrilj was used as check. The results show that some accessions of the hulled wheat species are inclined to lodging. On the other hand, they are resistant to foliar diseases, e.g. powdery mildew and leaf rust. Hulls serve as barriers against Fusarium head blight infection and therewith associated DON contamination of grains. Grain yield of hulled wheats is inferior compared to common wheat. Grains are characterised by high protein contents (up to 18.1%), however, protein quality is lower so that hulled wheats are not suitable to common baking procedures. Productivity of hulled wheat crops needs to be increased in order to extend their acreage in organic farming systems. The different technological and nutritional quality of hulled wheat species offers the possibility for new food products to be launched on the market and, hence, possibilities for regional marketing

Differences in Yield Parameters of Emmer in Comparison with Old and New Varieties of Bread Wheat

Emmer wheat (Triticum diccocum Schrank) belonged to the most frequent species of cereals in the past. Nowadays, it is grown in arid and montane areas in particular. Interest in this cereal species has increased, as it is tolerant to biotic and abiotic stressing factors. Therefore, yield parameters were evaluated in three-year (2007, 2008 and 2010) trials that were carried out in two different localities in the Czech Republic. Results of the research were compared to characteristics of four old and two top modern bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars. The emmer wheat varieties were resistant to usual wheat diseases. They formed their yield by a quantity of productive tillers (2.5), whereas the varieties of bread wheat had less productive tillers (1.5) per one plant. The distribution of assimilates was worse in the emmer wheat plants and it provoked a lower harvest index (0.33) there. Grain yield of the emmer wheat varieties reached 58% of the yield level of the mean of control bread wheat varieties. High crude protein content in grain (17.91%) was an advantage of the emmer wheat varieties; the control bread wheat varieties reached 13.73%. Protein content was positively influenced (P < 0.01) by an ability of the emmer varieties to uptake as much nitrogen as possible from the soil during the flowering period. Adaptability to the land and climatic environmental conditions was another positive characteristic of the emmer wheat landraces in comparison with old and modern bread wheat varieties

Wheat Growing and Quality in Organic Farming

This chapter will present criteria of the selection of suitable varieties for the organic farming system, depending on land and climatic conditions of a farm, current legislation, availability of seeds, options of the final use, etc. Data in this chapter are based on results of the trials carried out by authors on their working places and a discussion on o given topic. Exact small-plot trials with particular selected varieties (bread and hard wheat) and genetic resources of hulled wheat species (einkorn, emmer wheat, spelt wheat) were established on the authors' working places between 2005 and 2010. Significant and important characteristics for the organic farming (morphological, biological characteristics, yield formation and structure of yield, qualitative parametres of the production)

Spike productivity in relation to yield as criterion for emmer wheat breeding

Landraces, which are unbred cereal species, and include in particular the tetraploid emmer wheat, have become an important focus for the activities of local or organic farmers, processors and consumers of organic products. This study is based on analyses of the spike productivity, harvest index and grain yield of six emmer wheat landraces. It aims to find suitable criteria for the selection of cultivars and varieties which may contribute to the increase in the productivity of the emmer wheat. The cultivars and varieties most commonly used have short dense spikes which have a negative effect on the grain yield, as the spike density is negatively correlated with the weight of thousand grains (TGW), the weight of the grains in the spikes, the number of grains in spikelets and the proportion of hulls to the weight of the grains. Therefore, the selection of cultivars and varieties should focus on material having long lax spikes, and a high TGW, both of which would have a positive effect on the harvest index

Ancient Wheat Species Can Extend Biodiversity of Cultivated Crops

Wheat genetic resources may be grown in organic farming systems or in less favourable areas for bread wheat species. Characteristics of hulled wheat species (23 varieties of einkorn, emmer wheat, spelt wheat) were studied and evaluated within a two-year trial period (which was executed on certified organic fields) and they were compared to characteristics of landraces and modern bread wheat varieties. The main aim of our study was to evaluate the potential uses of genetic resources of wheat in organic farming. The hulled wheat species were resistant to mildew and brown rust. Their grains were less contaminated with DON than the grains of the control varieties. The grain yield rate was reduced. Per hectare crude protein yield was higher in spelt and emmer wheat species than in the control varieties. High protein proportion in grain was an important advantage of the hulled wheat species. Spelt wheat is suitable for production of products similar to bread wheat (they have similar technological qualities). Einkorn and emmer wheat contain worse-quality gluten and therefore are suitable for the production of unyeasty products, that is pasta, mush, traditional unyeasty bread, etc

Differences in the Morphological Characteristics of the Land Races of the Soft and Emmer Wheat in Relation to the Modern Varieties

For the organic farmers there is important question which varieties of wheat are right for organic farming in Less Favoured Areas. Modern varieties of wheat are bred in the conditions of conventional (high imput) farming. That is why the organic farmers asked about the suitability of land races of soft wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) or different species like emmer wheat grown in the past (Triticum dicoccum SCHUEBL). The paper results from the study of fourty land races, two intermediate and ten modern varieties of soft wheat in comparison to ten land races of emmer wheat at two locations in the Czech Republic. We evaluated tuft shape, length of plant, length and width of flag leaf, length and density of spike and awnedness. The modern varieties of soft wheat are characterised by a high level of uniformity. Their tuft shape is erect or semi-erect and length of plant is 60-70 cm, it does not rise the weed competitiveness. On the other hand, they have a medium or long flag leaf whose width is narrow or medium. Length of spike is medium or long. On the other hand, emmer wheat land races have the same tuft shape as forgoing modern varieties. Length of plant (89-119 cm) is the positive aspect of the weed competitiveness. Their flag leaf is narrow, but it is compesated by its length. The spike is shorter than the spike of modern varieties of soft wheat, but it is effectivelly compensated by an increased density. Intermediate wheat land races are characterised by looselly spreading tuft shape which puts the weeds down, but on the other hand, it favours the mildew because of the microclimate of soil. Its flag leaf is very short and narrow. Length of spike is medium and it is lax dense. The group of land races of soft wheat is characterised by a high diversity. The tuft shape is most frequently semi-erect. The length of plant varies from 60 to 120 cm, it usually ranges from 90 to 110 cm. Flag leaf is usually long or very long, but its width is very narrow or narrow. The spike is often long, but lax dense. Some of the evaluated varieties of landraces are proved to be suitable for organic farming from the point of view of the morphological characteristics

Morphological and biological characteristics of the land races of the spring soft wheat grown in the organic farming system

Organic farmers have become more interested in the marginally grown (neglected) cultivars, as spring forms of the hulled wheat varieties (eincorn, emmer wheat, spelta wheat) or intermediate forms of the soft wheat. 173 land races from the gene bank at the RI in Praha-Ruzyně were grown on the organic certified parcel and evaluated in 2008. The trial aimed to evaluate the conditions of the competitiveness to weeds, tolerance to diseases, assimilation of the sun shine and establishment of the yield. The results show that all the evaluated material inclines to the competitiveness to weeds. This ability is, nevertheless, reduced because of the inclination to the lodging (all the cultivars have long weak stalks). Eincorn and emmer wheat are resistant to mildew and brown rust, spelta wheat is less resistant cultivar and the intermediate cultivars incline to disease attack very much. Eincorn and emmer wheat have short and dense spikes, spelta wheat has long and sparse spikes. Perspective materials have been found in the study and trials. We are going to focus on a possible increase of the resistance to lodging, choice of the resistant cultivars to funga diseases and increase of the spike productivity

Emmer wheat using and growing in the Czech Republic

Emmer wheat [(Triticum dicoccum Schrank (Schuebl)] is after bread, durum and spelt wheat further species of wheat used for economic purposes. Organic farmers and producers have become more and more interested in marginal crops such as the tetraploid emmer wheat because of its suitability for organic farming. In spite of its historical role, present distribution of emmer is very limited. The work analyzes the problem of growing possibilities of emmer and its suitability for cultivation in organic farming. In the Czech Republic it is grown only a few farms, but in Austria is more popular now. Possible candidates for the cultivation of emmer has several options about where to obtain a suitable variety. The best option appears to be the choice of legally protected variety Rudico. Another option would be to obtain seed from abroad or multiplication of seed of its own genetic resources. Among important properties of emmer belongs e.g. considerably high resistance to some fungal diseases, which make it advantageous in organic system of growing. Hulled grain requires procedure of peeling. High grain quality, first of all high protein content, predetermines emmer wheat for preparation of healthy dishes in bio quality. The grains are suitable for the production of unyeasted products because of their specific quality. As the emmer wheat is grown especially in the organic farming system, the processing of grains has to respect the individuality of this obsolete cereal species. It may be used for the production of healthy regional food products

Current situations in organic cereal seed offer in the Czech Republic

Organic farmers are obliged, in compliance with the valid legislation, to use seed originating from the organic production when establishing the crop stands. In a survey we found certified organic cereal seed is used on 6 %, conventional untreated seed on 37 %, and farm seed on 57 % (of the organically farmed area in the Czech Republic). The main reasons for that are as follows: the insufficient surface of land intended for the reproduction of organic seed, the low proportion of accepted seed coming from the accepted reproduction surface. Therefore, low-quality farm seed is used on a large proportion of organically farmed land, which has a negative effect on the yield level of the cereals. These observations were also confirmed by results obtained in a farmer survey. Farmers indicated that they are interested in certified organic seed if it is available. However, the sufficient supply and favourable prices are important for them