BREEDING S
electa has always had a strong focus on the quality of its varieties. This concerns the flower quality as well as the robustness and the healthiness of the plant. In order to ensure that we provide healthy plant material to our clients, we always “start clean,” meaning that we grow all our seedlings in elite greenhouses and that we start to build up clean mother stock as soon as a seedling has been selected. By doing so we avoid any kind of virus or bacterial infection, and we are ready to supply healthy propagation material as soon as a variety goes commercial.
to Fusarium oxysporum. For several years we have a partnership with a research institute in Albenga, Italy. The Centro Regionale Di Sperimentatione Ed Assistenza Agricola tests annually more than 500 genotypes for their susceptibility to five different races of Fusarium oxysporum. From this research work, Selecta is expecting to develop by midterm a fully resistant carnation assortment. Although the focus differs slightly, in all cut flower crops, flower quality is mainly determined by the long-lasting quality during storage, transport and trading as well as by the following vase life. Therefore, we are trialing these characteristics of all selected seedlings from the first trial year on so that reliable data can be provided for all new varieties when they are selected for the assortment. Furthermore,
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esides the general plant healthiness, Selecta has always performed intensive breeding work with carnations to develop varieties with resistance
the breeding department is doing research to understand the genetics behind flower quality and vase life. As in ornamental plant breeding in general, in cut flower breeding one major goal is still the creation of new colors, flower shapes, and plant features. In Solidago the breeding team of Selecta has been able to develop the first Solidago variety with white flowers and growing characteristics of the well- established yellow varieties. The white flower color is originating from a cross with a wild species. Whereas the first hybrid seedlings had very poor growing characteristics, through several generations of back crossing the commercial variety “Estelle” could be generated.
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electa is of the opinion that breeding and research are the main drivers to stay competitive for the future. Therefore, every
year we are investing several million euros in breeding and research. Breeding dedicated to combining quality with beauty while taking care of environmental aspects will create the best value for all our customers, the flower producers as well as the wholesalers, retailers, and the final consumer. This is how we aim to create a successful common future being an initiator of a partnership dedicated to creating value and beauty.
Dr. Andrea Dohm is Director of Breeding and Research for the Selecta Group. You can reach her at
a.dohm@
selectaklemm.de
At our breeding station in Stuttgart, Germany, the carnation trial has been moved to a new greenhouse. This new investment costs over a half million euros.
In Selecta Kenya the breeding team performs year-round trials on 5.000 m² trial area in a plastic greenhouse.
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