Bio-Impuls Ir. Peter Keijzer Prof.dr.ir. Edith Lammerts van Bueren (Louis Bolk institute) & Dr.ir. Ronald Hutten Ir. Christel Engelen (Wageningen University & Reseach)
Bioimpuls A Dutch national initiative to provide new potato varieties resistant to late blight (Phytophthora infestans L.) for the organic sector.
Why this project?
Why this project? • Between 2004 and 2008 the Dutch acreage of organic potatoes sharply declined due to severe incidences of late blight. • A 10-year project aimed at using cis-genesis to develop GMO late blight resistant potato varieties (DurPh) was financed by the Dutch government. • The Dutch parliament argued that consumers should be left the option to choose between GMO and non-GMO.
Why this project? • Hence classical breeding for the organic sector: Bioimpuls, also 10 year, from 2009 on. • Soon to be incorporated in a broader program called “ Green Breeding ”, aiming at breeding research in (small) food crops for the organic sector with preferably spin-off to the non- organic sector, running from 2010 till end of 2019.
What’s the set-up? The project is a cooperation between Louis Bolk institute and Wageningen University and Research
Louis Bolk institute Edith Lammerts Peter Keijzer van Bueren 2009 -2017 2018 - …….
Wageningen University and Research Christel Engelen Ronald Hutten
How is it organized?
How is it organized? Formally: Bioimpuls is one of the projects in the Green Breeding program: classical breeding for the organic sector. Institutionally: Louis Bolk institute coordinates it Wageningen University & Research takes care of the crossing program and central trial field, marker analyses, etc. Practically:
6 commercial breeding companies and farmer-breeders
How is it organized? Year -1: WUR makes the crosses. Year 0: Breeders choose seeds and raise seedlings, some organically out in the field, some in greenhouses , …. Year 1 till 3: Breeders make selections for three field generations, of which at least one is under organic conditions.
How is it organized? Year 4: All selected material is centrally trialled and tested by WUR for Phytophthora resistance molecular markers for specific resistance genes growth and yield parameters (organic and non-organic conditions) culinary quality nematode resistance ( Globodera spp.)
How is it organized? Year 4: central Phytopthora resistance trial
How is it organized? Year 4: culinary quality tests from central trial field
How is it organized? Year 4: All trialled material is put together on display at a show in December for all participants involved. (no secrets here..)
How is it organized? Year 5: Selected material is used for new crosses in the Bioimpuls program at Wageningen, and the cycle starts all over again within the crossing program. Further, breeders continue trialling their most advanced clones in their own selection system of positioning and pre- commercial trials.
How is it organized? In case of commercial potential: Breeding stations have full commercial rights on their Bioimpuls selections. Farmer breeders have to make arrangements with one of the breeding stations within the project. No royalty obligations back to the Bioimpuls program.
Characteristics typical for an organic potato
Characteristics typical for an organic potato Above soil level: Resistant to late blight (Phytophthora), early blight (Alternaria) and scab Fast soil coverage to suppress weeds under lower nitrogen levels, especially in late spring Below soil level: Early tuber initiation and bulking N-efficient and a well-developed root system Ability to recover, no growth cracks nor secondary growth Ability to flourish with mycorrhiza? Less susceptible for Rhizoctonia and silver scab
Characteristics typical for an organic potato Typically for a seed crop: Resistance to viruses And of course : attractive skin finish, good quality and taste, flesh color tuned to local market preferences!
Characteristics typical for an organic potato Bioimpuls focusses on: Phytophthora resistance in leaves and tuber
Why does it take so long?
Why does it take so long? Resistance genes are found in wild relatives. ‘Wild’ means….. Resistant to Phytophthora ….but also …. No tubers at our latitudes, When tubers: poor yields, deep eyes, unattractive skin finish flesh color usually white or very pale yellow
Why does it take so long? It takes at least 4 generations of crossing to get rid of most of these wild, unwanted characteristics: Each generation takes at least 3 – 4 year. In each generation you have to test: is it still resistant? In each generation you have to select for better adaptation to both farm practices and consumer preferences.
Starting with wild relatives takes a long time… Pre-breeding • Cross with wild relative ( F1 ) 3 y • B ack c rosses with varieties 4 x 4 y 19 years Commercial breeding From cross to market introduction 12 year 30 + years! Total
Not finished yet … Least advanced material: still some 10 year of prebreeding to go. We’ve still got work to do ! Most advanced material: Pre-commercial tests.
Bioimpuls in numbers
Bioimpuls in numbers Since the start-up in 2009: 6 professional breeding companies 11 farmer-breeders 60,000 new seedlings per year enter the selection pipeline 11 different major genes against Phytophthora resistance tested out in the field and with molecular markers FG4 enters central trial and is available for new round of crossing
Bioimpuls in numbers Major resistance genes / gene-groups used in commercial breeding: Rpi-blb2 (Bionica, Toluca) R8(dms) (Vitabella, Sarpo Mira, Passion , ….. R9(dms) = Rpi-edn2 Athlete Carolus, Twinner, Twister Alouette ‘Unidentified’ (minor/major?) resistance genes used still in prebreeding: Solanum brachycarpum, bukasovii, iopetalum, multi-interruptum and sucrense
Bioimpuls farmer-breeders
Selection by organic farmer-breeders: first step = Phytopthora enables ‘ negative mass selection ’
Selection by organic farmer-breeders: Second step : From healthy plants the ones with best tubers are selected; criteria - Tuber size grading, - Tuber shape, - Eye depth, skin finish
Selection by organic farmer-breeders: Bad shape Scabby skin
Selection by organic farmer-breeders:
Selection by organic farmer-breeders: Third step: • Harvested tubers are stored untill next season and are seed potatoes for the next crop, in which selection continues…… After 3 generations out in the field: material goes back to Wageningen for central trials and one of the breeding stations for further trialling.
Practical training for potato breeders
Practical training for potato breeders Started up by the Louis Bolk institute: In order to train new farmer-breeders for the Bioimpuls project. Started in 2011, and still running since. In 2017 the three Dutch assiociations for hobby potato breeders took over the organisation from Louis Bolk institute.
Practical training for potato breeders Still running: In 2018 new 22 students are trained. Farmers, staff from professional breeding stations, staff from certification service NAK, ………
Practical training for potato breeders The study book is available in Dutch (2 nd ed), English and Chinese….. www.aardappelwereld.nl/webshop
Organic potatoes not just Holland….
Potatoes 4 th staple food worldwide !
Bioimpuls and CoFREE The CoFREE project demonstrated the potential of copper-free production of food crops. (copper is a broad spectrum fungicide)
COFREE (EU project) 2012-2016
In-shop consumer campaigns in Zeist and Wageningen
Bioimpuls summary
What does Bioimpuls bring? Due to more (financial) capacity in breeding more resistance genes can be crossed in to broaden the genetic base under durable resistance. Through selection under organic conditions new priorities lead to new types of varieties for both the organic farmer and the non-organic farmers. By increasing selection capacity and through a participative approach using farmers in the selection new varieties are expected to be better adapted to organic farm practices.
Thanks! – Questions? http://louisbolk.org/bioimpuls/en/ p.keijzer@louisbolk.nl
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