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

Lammerts van Bueren, E.T.; Backes, Gunter; de Vriend, H.C. and Østergård, H. (2010) The role of molecular markers and marker assisted selection in breeding for organic agriculture. EUPHYTICA, 175 (1), pp. 51-64.

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Summary

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.


EPrint Type:Journal paper
Keywords:Organic plant breeding - Evaluation of molecular markers - Marker assisted selection - SWOT analysis - Low-input agriculture
Subjects: Animal husbandry > Breeding and genetics
Research affiliation: Denmark > DTU - Technical University of Denmark
Netherlands > Louis Bolk Institute
Denmark > KU - University of Copenhagen
Netherlands > Wageningen University & Research (WUR) > Plant Research International PRI
Netherlands > Other organizations
DOI:10.1007/s10681-010-0169-0
Deposited By: Steinbuch, Luc
ID Code:18232
Deposited On:16 Mar 2011 15:16
Last Modified:16 Mar 2011 15:16
Document Language:English
Status:Published
Refereed:Peer-reviewed and accepted

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