Research for Organic Propagation Material and Breeding

Organic cultivation depends on robust and healthy propagation material and the availability of suitable plant varieties. The circumstances in organic cultivation are often very different from those in conventional agriculture. Nutrient levels in the soil are often lower and the availability depends on soil temperature. At the same time, pests and diseases cannot be treated with chemicals.

propagationSpecific organic breeding programs and tailor-made research into the vigour and health of propagation material are essential to organic cultivation. To be able to facilitate organic farmers, Wageningen UR and Louis Bolk Institute carry out a variety of research aimed specifically at organic breeding and propagation material.

Currently, the sector is discussing whether a separate organic breeding program is necessary and preferable. Farmers need a diversity of organic species that perform well under low-input circumstances, but only have limited options available at the moment.

Separate organic breeding programmes are costly. At the moment organic cucumber seeds are especially difficult to come by, after production in the Netherlands has ceased. At the same time organic growers are obliged to use organic seeds!

Projects

Nitrogen plasticity in organic potato This project aims to identify plant traits in organic potato cultivars that are able to deal with low nitrogen input and variable nitrogen availability.

Onions and mycorrhizas and their relationship to roots and fusarium basal rot Looks at the relationship between mycorrhiza-interaction, root systems and Fusarium resistance when breeding onions for low-input conditions.

Thrips resistance in cabbage Cabbage varieties differ markedly in their susceptibility to thrips. This project looks at the genetic background of these differences.

Preventing internal Xcc-infections of organic Brassica seed This project studies the colonisation route of Xcc (the causal organism of black rot) to find new ways of controlling infections.

Rapid analysis of the vigour of organic propagation material This project aims to develop rapid tests to determine both stress tolerance of seeds and seed potatoes and damage induced by sanitation treatments.

Germination and emergence problems with pumpkin seeds Seed emergence of pumpkins is frequently problematic in the Netherlands. This project aims to acquire more knowledge.

Propagation & breeding