Entwicklung von Phytophthora-resistentem Zuchtmaterial für den ökologischen Landbau

Summary

Under organic farming conditions late blight, caused by Phythophtora infestans, poses one of the highest production risks. Extensive plant breeding activities are needed to offer varieties which show higher resistance to this potato disease. For organic farming cultivars are required to thrive under reduced pest management and increased mechanical stress. To meet these demands the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture has promoted a joint research project funded through the “Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture” (BÖLN). The project brings together the German expertise in potato breeding: the Julius Kühn–Institut (JKI), the Leibniz-Institut für Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung (IPK), the Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft (LfL) and German potato breeding companies.
A variety of modern and historic cultivars from potato breeders and the IPK Genbank, respectively, were used to combine quality traits with the late blight resistance of JKI breeding clones and other selected clones. Phenotypic results from a variety trial were used to choose suitable breeding partners. Where possible, the progeny were preselected using genetic markers for virus, nematode and late blight resistance. Central aspect of the project was to select clones in field trials under organic farming conditions. Since 2012 scientists and organic farmers have been choosing jointly from more than 2000 individuals per year to establish a late blight breeding pool for organic farming.