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Italian chicory and Sugarloaf (Chicorium intybus var. foliosum) – development of populations and evaluation of breeding methods useful for organic horticulture
Project
Project code: 2810OE079
Contract period: 12.04.2011
- 11.04.2015
Budget: 144,498 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Radicchio and sugarloaf (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum) are important outdoor leafy vegetables for harvest late in the season and storage. The choice of cultivars for organic production is rather limited. Only a few open pollinated cultivars are available. Another aspect supporting the need for new open pollinated cultivars is the development of cms hybrids deriving from cell fusion in Cichorium intybus. This breeding method does not comply with organic principles according to IFOAM.
Aim of this project is the development of open pollinated cultivars of radicchio and sugarloaf for commercial organic horticulture. Breeding methods in accordance with organic principles and standards are investigated and developed. Field trials were carried out on organic fields at Reinshof experimental station near Göttingen.
By means of selection from open pollinated cultivars and by crossing selected open pollinated and hybrid cultivars diverse populations were developed to support organic breeding. Seed is available from Kultursaat e.V.
The successful storage of selected plants during Winter is essential for breeding programs. In optimum storage with temperatures of 2-6°C, relative humidity exceeding 80% and with additional light almost all plants survived. If possible, this method should be applied. Suitable storage facilities are available in many market gardens and farms. Radicchio causes more problems during storage than sugarloaf. Thus, the outer leaves should be removed frequently.
Inbreeding depression caused by selfing or full-sib mating can be substantial. In the four investigated genotypes (2 radicchio, 2 sugarloaf; 2 open pollinated, 2 hybrid) yield depression by inbreeding was significant and ranged from 15% to 23%. Differences between radicchio and sugarloaf or hybrid and open pollinated, respectively, were not observed. Above ground biomass could be determined reliably; heritability exceeded 95% for each genotype. As a result population bottlenecks should be avoided in breeding programs and maintenance breeding. A population size of at least 50 individuals is recommended.
24 genotypes of radicchio and sugarloaf were used to correlate the development of relevant traits when grown in Spring as compared to Autumn. Selection in Spring with subsequent seed production would speed up breeding programs. Spring selection is only possible to a very limited extend as Spring and Autumn values for relevant traits like leaf size and soil cover did show no or weak correlations. Head formation was mainly influenced by bolting resistance in Spring.
A Winter annual life cycle including six weeks of vernalization can generally be used in breeding. For some genotypes, however, severe restrictions were observed. It is recommended to use selection for day-neutral genotypes in Spring planting and work with a biannual life cycle.
The most far reaching application in follow-up projects would be the selection for day-neutral genotypes in Spring planting. Successful selection would facilitate cropping throughout the growing season or reduce bolting in Northern production areas. Relevant traits were included in the development of new breeding populations.
Section overview
Subjects
- Plant Breeding
- Vegetable Gardening
- Organic Farming
Framework programme
Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture (BÖLN)
