Small Plant Breeding Program: Survival

Transcription

1 Small Plant Breeding Program: Survival Taweesak Pulam The Corn Groups of Companies The Corn Company Ltd. Thai Seed Research Co., Ltd. Sweet Seeds, Co. Ltd. December 9, 2010

2 Small Plant Breeding Program Survival Competitiveness Leadership

3 Dedicate to: Thailand: Arjan Tavorn Kovitayakon- tomato Arjan Mongkol Puttiwong -bitter gourd, watermelon Sompong Mileur -melon Rapeepong Yawiras Anek Limsriwilai USA: -field corn -oil (old) plam Holden s Foundation Seeds, Inc.

4 Many of you may ask What is a small plant breeding program?

5 What is a small plant breeding program? Start up -one plant breeder owner plant breeder investor, etc. -not much money to spend Later (with products and money) -may expand to include production and distribution

6 Survival in Plant Breeding Program Management Breeding management Business management

7 20 questions in setting up a plant breeding program : Plant breeding management How feasible is it? How much investment do we need? What crop should we work on? Where is the germplasm? How to get the germplasm? Who should be plant breeder? What is the product profile (breed for what)? What methods should be use in breeding? How to run the breeding program? etc. Thailand, is very sad in a way. It may be the most difficult country to bring in germplasm for breeding).

8 20 questions in setting up a plant breeding program : Business management How feasible is it? How much investment do we need? What crop should we work on? Once the products were developed What kind of organization should it be? Should we have our production and distribution? Should it be via licensing? Should it be exclusive or non-exclusive? What volume should we produce? How to sell the seeds? etc.

9 Survival in Plant Breeding Program Management Breeding management Business management But: At first, concentrate on the breeding. Get the product out first.

10 Plant Breeding Breeding management Plant breeder and staff Germplasm Breeding methodology Program management

11 Plant Breeding Breeding management Plant breeder and staff -B.Sc., M.S., or Ph.D. -good knowledge of genetics statistics plant breeding field management -willingness to work in the hot sun (This may be the most important).

12 Plant Breeding Breeding management Plant breeder and staff This meeting has discussed a lot about plant breeding for climate change which include -breeding selection for heat tolerance The most difficult job is to -select heat tolerance breeder

13 Plant breeder Dr. Love Plant breeder must love his plants. Plant breeder must live with his plants.

14 Plant breeder. Dr. W. A. Russell the breeder must know the materials so that correct decisions can be made. This means that he/she must spend many hours in the field to observe the materials throughout the growing season. An arm-chair-desk breeder usually is not a successful corn breeder. Russell, W. A.. The development and evaluation of corn inbred lines. Illinois Corn Breeder School.

15 Plant Breeding Breeding management Germplasm -the best germplasm at that time -get germplasm in the right way (right, legal, pride) It is OK to use commercial hybrid in the market Commercial hybrids may be the best germplasm. There are many public inbreds we can use. (long list at CIMMYT, Crop Sci, Farm Suwan) Use these germplasm wisely. -classify available germplasm (testers, DNA) -develop unique germplasm for long term use -continue to diversify germplasm

16 Plant Breeding Breeding management Breeding methodology -standard method that work (add some new innovation) -self -ear row and select and self -top cross with best inbred (population) -evaluate -factorial or diallel cross to find the best hybrid -recycle materials logically and scientifically -be a little more advanced in testing (population, fertility, diversity) Troyer: 20% higher population than advance famers)

17 Plant Breeding Breeding management Program management -advance IT (in-house or packaged software) -sufficient computer skills for : data entry data analysis database management

18 Plant Breeding Breeding management IT Good IT will not make a successful breeding program. But, it will help in running the breeding program more smoothly.

19 Plant Breeding Thai Plant Breeders Thai Seed A software designed by plant breeders to help plant breeders in managing plant breeding program. It is an open source software and available to everyone for free. If anyone interest to learn the concept can attend the workshop at PBMAT. We have it once a year.

20 Plant Breeding Plant breeding management These software will help in management of -germplasm and cold room -breeding nursery -crossing block -yield trial It does not include statistical analysis. For statistics use -spreadsheet -CropStat

21 Plant breeding program key factors for success in breeding..good plant breeder..unique (start with or develop) germplasm..developing good staff (technicians and labors)..share knowledge..use tools..nothing replace sweat

22 Key Success Factors for a Small Plant Breeding Program Know what your customers really want : farmers and product end users Maintain sufficient genetic variability, especially elite heterotic patterns Having a smart (good) breeder with adequate technical competency Being in the field and environments where a breeder can select desirable characters that most farmers want Use the most efficient breeding procedures and keep up to date with new technologies Having good testing systems and networks of people Good people and management skills Dr. Tunya Kunta: Former Asia Pacific Corn Breeding Director, Monsanto Company.