SEEDS
In addition, the use of double-haploid technology
Figure 1 – Crop breeding: technology enables diversity
(using microspore or anther culture) to generate
homozygous lines, and stabilising a plant
variety’s genetics, can take years off the full
Complex
breeding programme. This powerful approach
native traits
brings better varieties to market much more
quickly and reliably – time savings of three
years or more are common – and is now a well-
established approach. In Syngenta, for example,
gm traits
two major marker research laboratories supply
new marker technology into regionally-located,
high-throughput application centres, which in
Conventional
breeding
turn support globally-distributed field breeding
programmes.
Evidence of the power of marker-assisted breeding
Past Future
comes from the cereal breeding arm of Syngenta
•
Experience driven • Novel functions • Greater divesity
Seeds, New Farm Crops (NFC). NFC launched four
• Faster, more targeted
new high-yielding winter wheat varieties to
Source: Syngenta
growers and the seed trade in the UK. Together,
the new varieties made up almost half of the
speed the breeding process and make it much breeders navigate through the complex genetic nine winter wheat candidates on the Home
more predictive. For many traits, applied genomic landscape. Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA) recommended
science allows breeders to identify and select the list for 2007. Having been out of the winter
plants with the best genes or ‘native’ traits at the Instead of raising every single plant and wheat recommended lists altogether for several
seedling stage – using marker-assisted breeding. comparing generation by generation based years, Syngenta Seeds investment in marker-
Markers are naturally-occurring features of DNA on morphological differences, scientists use assisted breeding technology, based in Toulouse
that work like signposts along the chromosomes, specifically designed DNA chips to identify and a double-haploid laboratory at Whittlesford
informing the breeder whether the characteristic diagnostic genetic differences of a trait (see the (UK), transformed the winter wheat breeding
is present or not – from some simple tests done at Affymetrix gene chip below). These diagnostic programme. The new high-yielding, superior
high-throughput in the laboratory. markers significantly improve the precision quality UK winter wheat varieties are a direct result.
of trait selection, dramatically accelerating
Molecular markers are the most powerful and breeding and making it more cost-effective. Many of these advances are possible thanks to
effective way to deliver products in the future and It is based on modern biotechnology but still technology developed to support pharmaceutical
to stay competitive in the market. But researchers retains the skill, knowledge and art of the and medical diagnostics applications of the
must discover which of the tens of thousands of plant breeder. In most crops Syngenta now has Human Genome programme. The push for
genes in a typical crop control important traits thousands of such markers. This technology tailored medical treatments has been the driver
such as disease resistance or enhanced flavour. will underpin every new seeds product in the in the development of techniques, laboratory
Syngenta developed ‘Gene Compass’ to help coming years. equipment and information technology that
have proved invaluable in handling vast
numbers of plant samples and hundreds of
millions of data points cost-effectively.
Flavour: a
complex trait
Such advances in
biotechnology are
now helping us
tackle challenges
that have not been
possible before
(see Figure 2).
The flavour of fruit
and vegetables has,
we believe, become
partially lost in a drive
for greater productivity
The Affymetrix gene chip
and shelf life and the
2 January 2008 • www.agrow.com
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