Abstract only

Typical breeding programs in the United States select genotypes to be grown in conventional monoculture systems, with perhaps two or three crops grown in a temporal rotation, such as maize and soybean in succeeding years. The breeding of these crops is typically done in rotation as well; maize plots are planted in fields that grew soybean the previous year for selection. However, s alternative cropping systems develop, such as organic farming systems, breeding under conventional production practices mayor may not be best suited to them. Breeding crops for cropping systems requires the breeder and the support scientists, with whom he or she interacts, to think differently about how breeding is conducted. This paper addresses two main themes: (1) practical breeding considerations that affect the structure of the program, and (2) the need for a systems viewpoint to incorporate breeding programs into sustainable agricultural production.

English

0309|AGRIS 0301|AL-Maize Program

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CIMMYT Publications Collection