The Bioimpuls organic potato breeding program
and the role of molecular markers
Edith T. Lammerts van Bueren1,2, Ronald Hutten2, Marjolein Tiemens-Hulscher1, Christel Engelen2, Wessel Verkaik1
Priority traits for organic potato varieties
Combining resistance genes
The organic potato sector urgently needs better adapted, non GMO
varieties to deal with the constraints of the low-input, organic
farming system. Besides late blight resistance the program focuses
on resistance against rhizoctonia, scab, alternaria and PVY. Special
attention is also paid to early tuber bulking, long dormancy and high
nutrient-efficiency. A joint breeding program “Bioimpuls” has been
initiated comprising Louis Bolk Institute, Wageningen University, six
breeding companies, and several farmer breeders.
The breeding program aims at approximately 35.000 seedlings per
year, including the whole range from wild species hybrid to
commercial crosses. To manage new late blight resistance genes in
a sustainable way one of the strategies will be to combine two to
three resistance genes from different genetic sources in each
variety and to develop a disease resistance management strategy in
cooperation with other experts.
Cultivars
Agrico
FB
HZPC
Cultivars
SB
FB
FB
FB
Cultivars
FB
Bioimpuls central breeding program:
- introgression breeding
- progenitor development
- testing potential clones
- selection and variety development
SB
FB
FB
FB
Van Rijn
FB
FB
FB
Den
Hartigh
Cultivars
Meijer
FB
Fobek
Cultivars
Cultivars
Figure 1. The organization structure of Bioimpuls. FB=farmer breeder, SB=small breeder
Picture 2. More than 300 different cross combinations made per year.
The approach is based on three parallel goals:
• to develop new progenitors through classical introgression
breeding with new combined late blight resistance genes;
• to provide the breeding sector with plant material from crossings
with new late blight resistances for selection;
• to stimulate farmer breeder participation in the selection
process, by giving training courses on potato breeding and
technical support.
Molecular markers in organic breeding programs?
In 2009 the role of molecular markers (MAS) in organic breeding
programs was evaluated by applying a ‘SWOT’ analysis [1]. One of
the conclusions was that more interaction between the conventional
and organic research communities would be fruitful and examples of
good practices with respect to MAS in organic plant breeding would
improve the better understanding of the potential contribution of
MAS in organic breeding programs. Also ‘cleaner’ protocols e.g. by
replacing harmful chemicals would contribute to better acceptance
of MAS in the organic sector.
Molecular markers to support selection of genotypes with stacked
late blight resistance genes was considered as an example of a
useful application for organic breeding.
Reference
Lammerts van Bueren et al., 2010. Euphytica DOI 10.1007/s10681-010-0169-0
Table 1. Bioimpuls state of the art of late blight resistance introgression breeding, 2010.
tetraploid
hou
R9
level
snk iop sto1
bcp sto2 R8
edn
F1
1
Picture 1. Farmers are involved in
Bioimpuls selection process.
Louis Bolk Institute, Hoofdstraat 24, 3972 LA Driebergen, The Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0)343-523860 - Email: e.lammerts@louisbolk.nl
1
diploid
level
F1
2
F1
3
arz
vid
ver
gig
sarpo
ber
blb2
BC1 BC1 BC1 BC1 BC2 BC2 BC2 BC2 BC3 BC3 BC3 BC3 BC4 BC4 BC4 BC4 Com
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4 1-10.
rch
avl
hcb
vnt
2
Wageningen UR Plant Breeding, Wageningen, The Netherlands
This project is funded (2009-2013) by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in the Program Groene Veredeling
Poster Bioimpuls_ENG.indd 1
17-6-2010 11:44:12