We use cookies on our website. Some are necessary for the operation of the website. You can also allow cookies for statistical purposes. You can adjust the data protection settings or agree to all cookies directly.
Data Protection Declaration
Imprint
Comparison of methods for the development of optimal maize varieties for organic farming
Project
Project code: 03OE651/1
Contract period: 01.04.2004
- 31.12.2006
Budget: 68,831 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Organic farming has gained in importance in Germany during the last few years. Therefore, the supply with seeds which are suitable for organic farming becomes increasingly important. In this context it becomes necessary to investigate if breeding goals and type of variety have to be conformed to the specific requirements of organic farming. For this purpose a research project was conducted at the University of Hohenheim, Institute of Plant Breeding, Seed Science, and Population Genetics in cooperation with the KWS SAAT AG. It was supported by the 'Bundesprogramm Ökologischer Landbau' and lasted from April 2004 to December 2006. Specifically, the objectives were
(1) Opimization of the selection strategy for the development of maize varieties meeting the requirements of organic farming;
(2) Development of new varieties (open-pollinated and hybrid varieties) suitable for organic farming;
(3)Evaluation of genetic resources for their suitability to organic farming, focussing on landraces which had been preselected for low-input tolerance. Comparative field experiments with modern elite- and landraces-derived germplasm were carried out under organic and conventional farming conditions in three regions of Germany between 2004 to 2006. Results demonstrate that specific adaptation to the requirements of organic farming can be achieved by selection. This implies that the necessary performance tests are carried out on experimental stations operated by organic farming. The investigations also indicated that there is a small top fraction of hybrids which show outstanding performance under organic as well as under conventional farming conditions.
As expected, the newly developed, genetically heterogeneous synthetic varieties proved to be better adapted to the requirements of organic farming than single-cross hybrids developed from the same lines. The yield reduction from conventional to organic farming amounted in average to 8 % for the open-pollinated varieties and to 15 % for the reference hybrids. However, the yielding potential of the synthetics was much (about 23 %) lower than that of the hybrids. The results of testcrossses with landraces and DH-lines derived therefrom indicated that these materials are valuable genetic resources for the development of Eco-varieties.
Section overview
Subjects
- Plant Breeding
- Organic Farming
Framework programme
Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture (BÖLN)
