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Imprint
Development and field testing of a new breeding concept for stable lettuce production in organic farming
Project
Project code: 2815OE048, JKI-GF-08-1186
Contract period: 01.03.2017
- 29.02.2020
Budget: 269,378 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: Lettuce
Despite increasing demand, the cultivation of organically produced lettuce has stagnated in Germany. The reason is that the lettuce cultivation in organic farming is not stable. Diseases like downy mildew and abiotic stress factors often lead to severe losses. Lettuce varieties with a combined high quality and stable yield are lacking on the market.
New breeding methods were first tested in the projects BÖLN 2810OE064/069. Results showed that planting line mixtures and cross populations are promising approaches to more stable yields. This can be explained with a higher diversity compared to homozygous varieties which results in more variable reactions to diseases and stress factors.
The aim of the project is to develop a sustainable concept for organic farming of lettuce based on these new breeding methods considering local growing conditions. The line mixtures should be optimized and the strategy of cross populations developed further. A high homogeneity of the habit and an early harvest should be achieved for line mixtures of head lettuce. Compared to head lettuce, the phenotype of batavia is more diverse. That is why several mixtures of Batavia should be created to provide them as 'coloured box' for customers. The method with cross populations has to be verified in terms of reproducibility. To achieve optimal breeding results, the individual selection should be compared with breeding in bulk to adjust the degree of genetic and phenotypic diversity. The key focus of the project is to test the new lettuce breeds for their suitability in commercial growing and large-scale production. Beside the acceptance of growers, new marketing strategies are required to implement the new breeding concept into practice. First market analyses will provide information about the future prospects of this new concept.
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)
