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Winter
2015
grainswest.com
35
F1
(2014): P1 and P2 cross occurs. Most Parent crossing and the F1 “grow out” would be done in the same year.
F2–
F4
F5–
F7
(2015–2016): F2 is the generation with the greatest diversity. More generations are needed to multiply seed and produce “inbred
lines.” Inbred means the progeny of that line will be consistent. Breeders begin to select for specific disease resistances and other
simple traits (height, maturity, grain colour). Hundreds of thousands of plants will be studied during this time.
(2017–2018): Select for specific agronomic traits. Build up new base again. Continue disease and agronomic selection. Breeders will also
begin selection for grain quality. Breeders will only have a few dozen lines le in trials.
F8–
F10
(2019–2021): Multi-site and multi-year testing is now underway within programs while breeders concurrently test for agronomic traits,
quality and disease resistance. Depending on the crop, a program’s resources and the weather, testing may last between two and four
years. The best selections advance to the registration trials.
(2022–2027):
Once the line has been selected, it moves into the next phase of its journey: the farmer’s field.
Registration Trials (authorized
by the CFIA). This takes two
or three years.
Breeders go through a
parallel process called
“Breeder seed purification.”
That’s industry lingo for
building up the pure seed
base of the new variety.
Breeder seed is a precursor
to the Select seed level.
Normally this takes three
years and can produce about
half a tonne of Breeder seed.
Variety registration (done by
the CFIA). Input given by a
recommending committee at
the Prairie Grain Development
Committee (PGDC).
Marketing company picks up
the variety.
Build up pedigreed seed for
commercial purposes.
Breeders then sell the
Breeder seed to a marketing
company.
Select
Foundation
Registered
Certified
Farmer plants a new crop variety, has high yields,
low inputs, zero disease and perfect weather.*
(*Subject to change)
Sell seed to farmers.
Sufficient seed will
likely be available to
sell by 2026 or 2027.
BREEDERS’ PARALLEL PROCESS
Highest quality
START
If the seed is good enough, a
company can move from
Foundation to Certified, skipping
Registered, to save one year.