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A new concept for organic tomato breeding
Project
Project code: 2815OE056
Contract period: 01.03.2017
- 28.02.2020
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: tomatoes, fungal disease
Despite increasing demand, the cultivation of organically produced tomatoes has come to a standstill in Germany. Leaf mold of tomatoes caused by Passalora fulva has been an increasing problem in greenhouse growing. The seasonal, cost-effective cultivation under plastic foil is particularly affected. Varieties declared to be resistant do not provide a sufficient protection anymore being exposed to a high risk of infection in traditional growing areas.
The aim is to develop varieties well adapted to organic farming conditions with stable resistance and good taste. To achieve this aim, we will test two research approaches. The first one is to test a new breeding strategy (F4 crossbreeds), which is well adapted to the growing system, and the second one is to select new sources of resistance by crossbreeding and verifying them. In the first approach, F4 crossbreeds created from breeding similar tomato lines should result in genetically partly heterogeneous populations, which can react more flexibly to stress factors. Commercial seeds will be produced from F4 crossbreeds, which should be of low phenotypic variance, however being genotypically diverse by possessing a part of heterogeneous gene loci. In the second approach, a partial resistance to P. fulva shall be achieved. Tomato lines from a German breeder, where resistance is probably based on an immune response, shall be tested and validated in view of this feature. New crossbreeding with these lines shall be performed to get open-pollinated varieties. Virulence of P. fulva in growing areas with a high infection risk shall be studied to detect local pathotypes. Resistant plants selected in tests with aggressive local pathotypes will provide for further breeding. Several growing areas will be involved in the breeding process to evaluate new breeds for growing suitability and the new breeding method of F4 crossbreeds with partly heterogeneous populations in order to achieve top product quality and sustainable yield.
Section overview
Subjects
- Plant Breeding
- Vegetable Gardening
- Organic Farming
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests (JKI-GF)
