Basic HTML Version
Winter
2015
Grains
West
34
THE
BREEDING
MODEL
F
F1
F2
F3
F4
F5
F6
F7
F8
F9
Initial grow out
of plants.
Increase seed, begin
process of “inbred line”
production.
Select for disease and
other simple traits, like
height and colour.
Continue to inbred
lines, seed increases
and selection.
Select for specific
agronomic traits.
Continue to select
for F5 & F6 traits.
Multi-site, multi-year
testing begins.
Multi-site, multi-year
testing continues.
Multi-site, multi-year
testing continues.
Select for grain quality.
F10
Cross two, three or four existing plant parents.
Parents = P1, P2, P3, P4 etc.
P = parents F = filial, or offspring
Two Parents are crossed to produce the F1 generation at which point evaluation, selection and
trials begin. The progeny generation following the initial cross is indicated by an F#.
NOTE: F generations can be sped up by growing multiple crops in different latitudes. These are
called “contra-season nurseries.”
Editor’s note:
There are nuances to any breeding program, depending on location, crop and breeder methodology. This diagram is not meant to be a representation of all crops.
“When I look at Canada
and compare it to many
other countries I have
travelled to, I think
Canada has tremendous
potential of leading in
agricultural productivity.”
—Joseph Nyachiro,
Lacombe Field Crop
Development Centre
“Breeding is o en
expedited by growing
multiple generations in a
single year by utilizing
greenhouses and winter
nurseries.”
—Brian Rossnagel, University
of Saskatchewan
“Molecular markers
and genomic selection
models help us under-
stand how genes
combine to give us
desirable lines. But at
the end of the day,
field testing (phenom-
ics) is king.”
—Richard Cuthbert,
Semiarid Prairie Agricultural
Research Centre
“Genetics is real and
works! You get what you
select for!”
—Ron DePauw, Semiarid
Prairie Agricultural
Research Centre
“Input from producers
and end-users is essential
to set the direction and
ensure the relevance of
any breeding program.”
—Aaron Beattie, University of
Saskatchewan
WHAT ARE THE BREEDERS SAYING?
THE BREEDING WHEEL