21st century wheat breeding: plot selection or plate detection?

Koebner, R. M. D.; Summers, R. W.

doi:10.1016/s0167-7799(02)00036-7

Cited by 120 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…While the Kenya breeding program prides success in releasing cultivars through conventional selection methods, DNA-based marker-assisted selection (MAS) still largely underutilized might expedite development of desired cultivars if well implemented. MAS is applicable in four main areas that wheat breeders in Kenya often encounter: for efficient detection and selection of a small number of traits that are difficult to manage via phenotype and usually characterized with low penetrance and/or complex inheritance, for the retention of recessive alleles in backcrossing pedigrees, for the pyramiding of disease-resistance genes, and for aiding in the choice of parents in crossing, to ensure minimal levels of duplication [31]. However, just as this author posits, wheat breeding will continue to be mostly characterized by selection in the breeding plots, rather than detection in the microtiter plots per se.…”

Section: Leveraging Modern Breeding Tools and Best Practicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wheat in Kenya: Past and Twenty-First Century Breeding

Macharia¹,

Ngina²

2017

Wheat Improvement, Management and Utilization

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Plant breeders aim to improve crop varieties to benefit humankind. Since wheat was introduced in Kenya, numerous varieties have been released and cultivated to varying extents. Past genetic gains have been fragile due to various environmental challenges-mostly rust diseases, and unfavorable socio-economic national policy for the crop. The role and the contribution of wheat breeding to the success of the crop in Kenya for over a century is reviewed. It is considered that systematic exploitation of local and introduced genetic diversity has contributed to release of varieties with superior genetics over time, enhancing productivity from 1 ton/ha in the 1920's to approximately 3 tons/ha recently. Consistent rise in demand to about 1 million metric tons suggests that the national wheat breeding research program must be remodeled to leverage modern tools and best practices; to reconsider its target range of breeding environments in the wake of climate change; to entrench its engagement with the international wheat research programs; and to promote a culture of continuous mentorship. Here, cases are highlighted where the national program has moved in such positive directions to address the varietal needs of a crop that has fully integrated in the economy and the diets of many Kenyans.

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Section: Leveraging Modern Breeding Tools and Best Practicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wheat in Kenya: Past and Twenty-First Century Breeding

Macharia¹,

Ngina²

2017

Wheat Improvement, Management and Utilization

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“…The expense of gaining governmental regulatory approval for commercial release of transgenic varieties (recently estimated at $7-$10 million by Kalaitzandonakes et al, 2007) is a significant economic barrier. The costs associated with the development, establishment, and operation of molecular plant breeding are greater than conventional plant breeding practices (Koebner and Summers, 2003;Morris et al, 2003), requiring significant investments in new research infrastructure and intellectual capacity. Such resources initially existed only in private agribusiness firms and a handful of larger public institutions, further accelerating an ongoing trend for increased industrialization of plant breeding programs among major crops such as corn, soybeans, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), and wheat (Johnson, 2007).…”

Section: Increasing Adoption Of Molecular Plant Breedingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Plant Breeding as the Foundation for 21st Century Crop Improvement

2008

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The fundamental discoveries of Darwin and Mendel established the scientific basis for plant breeding and genetics at the turn of the 20th century. Similarly, the recent integration of advances in biotechnology, genomic research, and molecular marker applications with conventional plant breeding practices has created the foundation for molecular plant breeding, an interdisciplinary science that is revolutionizing 21st century crop improvement. Though the methods of molecular plant breeding continue to evolve and are a topic of intense interest among plant breeders and crop scientists (for review, see Cooper et al., 2004;Nelson et al., 2004;Lö rz and Wenzel, 2005;Varshney et al., 2006;Eathington et al., 2007;Mumm, 2007), they have received relatively little attention from the majority of plant biologists engaged in basic scientific research. The objective of this article for an Editor's Choice series on future advances in crop biotechnology is to briefly review important historical developments in molecular plant breeding, key principles influencing the current practice of molecular plant breeding, and factors that influence the adoption of molecular plant breeding in crop improvement programs. Furthermore, we emphasize how the application of molecular plant breeding is now contributing to discoveries of genes and their functions that open new avenues for basic plant biology research.

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“…Koornneef and Stam (2001) describe how in plant breeding the paradigm has changed from selection of phenotypes toward indirect or direct selection of genes. Koebner and Summers (2003) however argue with respect to wheat breeding that the breeding paradigm will be touched but not overturned by genomics driven MAS, as wheat breeding will continue to be primarily driven by field selection. The representatives of the organic sector are not merely concerned about an overemphasis on increasing knowledge on the underlying molecular genetics, but also stress that the organic sector is urging for more knowledge on higher integration levels applying an agro-ecological approach at crop and farm system level.…”

Section: Selection At Gene or Phenotypic Levelmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of molecular markers and marker assisted selection in breeding for organic agriculture

et al. 2010

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Plant geneticists consider molecular marker assisted selection a useful additional tool in plant breeding programs to make selection more efficient. Standards for organic agriculture do not exclude the use of molecular markers as such, however for the organic sector the appropriateness of molecular markers is not self-evident and is often debated. Organic and low-input farming conditions require breeding for robust and flexible varieties, which may be hampered by too much focus on the molecular level. Pros and contras for application of molecular markers in breeding for organic agriculture was the topic of a recent European plant breeding workshop. The participants evaluated strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the use of molecular markers and we formalized their inputs into breeder's perspectives and perspectives seen from the organic sector's standpoint. Clear strengths were identified, e.g. better knowledge about gene pool of breeding material, more efficient introgression of new resistance genes from wild relatives and testing pyramided genes. There were also common concerns among breeders aiming at breeding for organic and/ or conventional agriculture, such as the increasing competition and cost investments to get access to marker technology, and the need for bridging the gap between phenotyping and genotyping especially with complex and quantitative inherited traits such as nutrient-efficiency. A major conclusion of the authors is that more interaction and mutual understanding between organic and molecular oriented breeders is necessary and can benefit both research communities.

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21st century wheat breeding: plot selection or plate detection?

Cited by 120 publications

References 11 publications

Wheat in Kenya: Past and Twenty-First Century Breeding

Wheat in Kenya: Past and Twenty-First Century Breeding

Molecular Plant Breeding as the Foundation for 21st Century Crop Improvement

The role of molecular markers and marker assisted selection in breeding for organic agriculture

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