Abstract
BackgroundThe use of high inputs in agriculture resulted in few varieties (hybrids and pure lines) used in all agricultural systems. Also varieties of vegetables, including broccoli, for organic and low-input agriculture, are almost exclusively hybrids, since there are very few specific breeding programs and varieties for sustainable agriculture systems.A strategy to overcome this issue is the adoption of specific breeding programs for developing heterogeneous varieties (i.e. synthetics, open pollinated varieties, composite cross populations and mixtures). In fact, heterogeneous varieties are able to evolve and adapt to specific agro-climatic conditions.The aim of this study was to develop a method (an Evolutionary Breeding Program, EBP) for obtaining heterogeneous varieties of broccoli and test its efficiency in developing highly diverse varieties, as needed in sustainable agriculture.A synthetic variety originated from a landrace was multiplied in different environments for 3 cycles and morpho-phenological and genetic diversity of the derived populations were assessed.ResultsThe presented results are the first and unique indication about the efficiency of a short-time EBP for an allogamous species like broccoli.Few morphological changes were observed among varieties multiplied in different environments with different agro-climatic conditions. This could be probably due to the initial genetic diversity of the landrace from which the populations were selected and also to the great plasticity of the crop. However, SSR data highlighted a genetic differentiation among populations multiplied for two/three years across Europe and in Central Italy, that was not so evident when considering morphological data only.ConclusionsFew years of multiplication in different environments resulted in genetically differentiated broccoli populations that nonetheless preserved the original genetic diversity and productivity level and appear to evolve in relationship to different environments: the applied EBP is useful for developing heterogeneous materials for sustainable agriculture.
Highlights
The use of high inputs in agriculture resulted in few varieties used in all agricultural systems
One of the aims of this study was to assess the adaptation potential of a heterogeneous variety when multiplied in different environments
This diversity can continue to evolve in response to different selection pressures in each environment in the future, as it has always happened with any introduction of variable materials in different environments in the past
Summary
The use of high inputs in agriculture resulted in few varieties (hybrids and pure lines) used in all agricultural systems. Varieties of vegetables, including broccoli, for organic and low-input agriculture, are almost exclusively hybrids, since there are very few specific breeding programs and varieties for sustainable agriculture systems. Organic farmers largely depend on broccoli varieties bred for high external input in conventional farming systems [4, 5], and in particular, broccoli varieties are almost exclusively hybrids [5], due to lack of specific breeding programs and varieties for sustainable (organic and low-input) agriculture. In the context of sustainable agriculture, to allow varieties to evolve and adapt to specific agro-climatic conditions is important [7]. This is possible only when heterogeneous varieties (i.e. landraces, synthetics, open pollinated varieties, composite cross populations, mixtures) are used and reproduced on-farm for generations
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call