Breeding

Plant breeders and researchers collaborate for the next generation of legumes to reduce the protein gap in Europe
Professor Stig Uggerhøj Andersen from the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Aarhus University is part of a European consortium, "Legume Generation," which aims at developing plant breeding to make legumes more productive and profitable for European farmers. The consortium has been awarded…

US (NY): New plot-labeling program supports plant breeders in Global South
Plant breeding is a numbers game – to quickly develop needed crop varieties in the face of rapidly changing climatic conditions, plant breeders need to screen thousands of plants each year. Now, a new, free program that creates QR labels for field plots will help plant breeders in lower-income countries…

Africa's first IAEA collaborating center for plant breeding and genetics
Innovative plant breeding programs using safe and proven nuclear techniques are vital for enhancing food security and sustainable agriculture. For nearly 60 years, the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture and its Plant Breeding and Genetics Laboratory in Seibersdorf,…

Sakata Seeds expands portfolio:
"After substantial investments in tomatoes and peppers, we've now gained a foothold in cucumbers"
With the acquisition of the cucumber breeding company, Sana Seeds, Sakata is expanding its presence in the cucumber market. "We're broadening our portfolio. After substantial investments in recent years in tomatoes and peppers, we've now gained a foothold in cucumbers," said Matthieu Maxant, EMEA Chief Operating Officer of Sakata. He explained that this acquisition is n…

via abc.net.au
Inside the Pacific's CePaCT plant gene bank
In a secure, temperature-controlled vault in Fiji's capital of Suva, stacks of tiny vials hold several plantations-worth of sprouting plants. The dazzling display of banana, taro, breadfruit, yam, and other seedlings represents a backup collection of the most important varieties of crops in the Pacific…

© Abdelmoumen Taoutaou | Dreamstime.com
South Africa invests in indoor plant breeding facilities
Highly automated growing platforms will help scientists to develop better crops. The Department of Science and Innovation in South Africa has awarded R50 million (US$2.66 million) to build two facilities where plants can be grown under controlled climatic conditions. The indoor plant growing platforms,…

Benefits of a quality tissue lab
In the world of horticulture, lab tissue culture is a remarkable technique used for growing plants in a controlled environment. It's like a plant nursery in a lab, ensuring that each plant is a genetic copy of its parent. But why is having a quality lab so crucial, and what are the risks of opting for a cheaper one? Let's…