Basic HTML Version
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.
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
“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
START
If the seed is good enough, a
company can move from
Foundation to Certified, skipping
Registered, to save one year.
GRAINSWEST
•
WINTER 2015
TABLE OF
CoNTENTS
FEATuRES
Ed McNally
All he wanted was a good beer. What he did was
revolutionize Canada’s brewing industry.
Grain grading
Is it a No. 1, 2 or 3? The stakes are high after a
complicated harvest.
Chantelle Donahue
Cargill’s dealmaker opens up about the future of ag,
the farm and her family.
Plant breeding
Part art, part science, part painstaking dedication.
Microeconomics of trade
Another day, another trade deal—what does it
mean for the average farmer?
22
26
30
33
38
22
30
38
33
26
Winter
2015
Grains
West
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