Selection for Dry Bean Yield On‐Station Versus On‐Farm Conventional and Organic Production Systems

Abstract

High yielding cultivars adapted to conventional and organic production system would maximize efficiency of nutrient usage and reduce dependence on pesticides. The objective of this study was to determine if separate breeding efforts are needed to obtain high yielding dry bean breeding lines for on‐farm organic (FO) and on‐farm conventional (FC) production systems. The six highest yielding breeding lines selected from each of FO, FC, and on‐station conventional (SC) production systems in two populations (1WS, 2WS) and their parents were evaluated for days to maturity, 100‐seed weight, and seed yield in 2007 and 2008. The production system and genotype effects were significant (P ≤ 0.01) for all three traits. Seed yield gains were between 10.5% in FC and 15.0% in SC in 1WS and between 6.2% in FO and 21.0% in SC in 2WS. Seed yield of breeding lines selected in SC was higher than those selected in FC and FO when tested across the three production systems. The SC seed yield was positively associated with seed yield in FC and FO in 2WS and with seed yield in FC in 1WS. The FC and FO seed yields were positively associated only in 2WS. The highest yielding breeding lines within and across the three PS varied by the production system in which they were selected. Thus, breeding high yielding cultivars in SC or FC may serve FO in some populations, whereas a separate breeding for FO and FC may be justified in other populations if the accompanying seed yield gains would off‐set the added costs involved in the production system specific breeding.

Agronomic Performance and Nitrogen Fixation of Heirloom and Conventional Dry Bean Varieties Under Low-Nitrogen Field Conditions

“…Overall, the yield performance of the heirloom genotypes in our study would suggest that incorporation of these genotypes into a modern breeding program for organic production would not introduce significant yield drag. Singh et al (2011) suggested that the use of well-adapted heirloom genotypes in bean breeding could be “crucial for developing high-yielding broadly adapted cultivars for sustainable organic and conventional production systems, thus reducing research and production costs.”…”

Seed and Plant Breeding for Wisconsin’s Organic Vegetable Sector: Understanding Farmers’ Needs

“…Such breeding may not produce the traits needed to optimize organic cultivation Murphy et al 2007;Singh et al 2011). Furthermore, plant breeders express concern that seed industry consolidation continues to result in less prominent geographic areas being dropped from the focus of private breeding programs, or "abandonment of the margins" (Tracy 2014:48).…”

Performance of Dry Bean Genotypes Grown under Organic and Conventional Production Systems in Michigan

“…Other genotypes, such as pinto bean Buster and pinto bean Bill Z were responsive to high inputs and may be better suited to systems where fertilizer and supplemental irrigation are used to maximize yield. Singh et al (2011) investigated selection under organic and conventional systems and questioned whether the small gains achieved for production in the respective system were worth the effort. They concluded that direct selection for yield under organic production systems resulted in only slight gains when those genotypes were grown under organic production systems when compared to genotypes which were selected under conventional systems (Singh et al, 2011).…”

“…Singh et al (2011) investigated selection under organic and conventional systems and questioned whether the small gains achieved for production in the respective system were worth the effort. They concluded that direct selection for yield under organic production systems resulted in only slight gains when those genotypes were grown under organic production systems when compared to genotypes which were selected under conventional systems (Singh et al, 2011). This conclusion suggests that dry beans selected under conventional production systems are well suited to both organic and conventional production systems.…”