Abstract
This research review notes that cereal variety breeding in the last 50 years has been based on pedigree line bred varieties as part of the development of a production system dependent on oil-based inputs. The characteristics desirable for an organic system are frequently at odds with those designed for non-organic systems. Despite this, varietal choice for organic farmers remains largely from the pool of varieties developed for non-organic production. The challenges to address are on what basis can farmers and advisers select varieties, and how to develop varieties suitable for organic production. Plant characteristics are discussed and main desirable features outlined under the headings of: • Nutrient use efficiency • Disease resistance • Weed competitive ability • Quality Breeding selection parameters are then considered. The wide variation that occurs in organic systems and the aim to improve the consistency of performance (yield stability) means that the adaptability of a single variety is not sufficient to buffer these variables. The place for variety mixes is considered, and then the case for composite cross populations. The development of these alternative approaches is hindered by market acceptability and for composite populations by the legislative framework. The conclusions note there are many and different combinations of characteristics that may be of advantage. The suitability of a variety can be affected by the management of the whole organic system, not just one crop in isolation. The situation is complex and selection of genotypes is best undertaken under organic management. Low input line breeding programmes have achieved some success, but the review argues that better environmental adaptation is achieved by genotype diversity, either as variety mixes or as composite populations. For the future there is potential in the (relatively) short term for line breeding under organic conditions. For the longer term there is opportunity in mixtures, and especially of populations. For these to be successfully developed there is a need to address cultural attitudes, inertia in the market and production infrastructure and legislative framework.
Abstract from the paper’s OpenAlex record, shown for indexing and research. Copyright remains with the authors or the publisher.
The text the model read, with the source record’s inline markup (italics, sub- and superscripts) rendered and its character entities decoded; quote offsets refer to the raw text.
Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
Organic varietal choices largely come from varieties developed for non-organic production.
Verbatim
e0“varietal choice for organic farmers remains largely from the pool of varieties developed for non-organic production”
t0“Cereal variety”
Claim · model-written summary
Single-variety adaptability is insufficient to buffer variation in organic systems.
Verbatim
e0“The wide variation that occurs in organic systems and the aim to improve the consistency of performance (yield stability) means that the adaptability of a single variety is not sufficient to buffer these variables”
t0“Cereal variety”
Claim · model-written summary
Market acceptance hinders alternative variety approaches.
Verbatim
e0“The development of these alternative approaches is hindered by market acceptability”
t0“Cereal variety”
Claim · model-written summary
Legislation hinders development of composite populations.
Verbatim
e0“for composite populations by the legislative framework”
t0“Cereal variety”
Claim · model-written summary
Suitability of a variety depends on management of the whole organic system.
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“The suitability of a variety can be affected by the management of the whole organic system”
t0“Cereal variety”
Claim · model-written summary
The review recommends selection of genotypes under organic management.
Verbatim
e0“selection of genotypes is best undertaken under organic management”
t0“Cereal variety”
Claim · model-written summary
Low-input line breeding programmes have achieved some success.
Verbatim
e0“Low input line breeding programmes have achieved some success”
t0“Cereal variety”
Claim · model-written summary
The review argues genotype diversity gives better environmental adaptation.
Verbatim
e0“better environmental adaptation is achieved by genotype diversity, either as variety mixes or as composite populations”
t0“Cereal variety”
Claim · model-written summary
The review identifies short-term potential for line breeding under organic conditions.
Verbatim
e0“For the future there is potential in the (relatively) short term for line breeding under organic conditions”
t0“Cereal variety”
Claim · model-written summary
The review identifies longer-term opportunity in mixtures, especially populations.
Verbatim
e0“For the longer term there is opportunity in mixtures, and especially of populations”
t0“Cereal variety”
Claim · model-written summary
Developing mixtures and populations requires addressing cultural attitudes, market inertia, production infrastructure and legislation.
Verbatim
e0“there is a need to address cultural attitudes, inertia in the market and production infrastructure and legislative framework”
t0“Cereal variety”