Axe 3 : Understanding and mobilizing cultivated diversity to provide solutions for agriculture and its actors
Climate change, soil degradation, and the use of pesticides and fertilizers pose significant threats to food security and agricultural sustainability globally. INRAE has revised its scientific strategy to address these challenges, aiming for an agroecological transition. GQE-Le Moulon, with its expertise in plant genetic resources and breeding methods, is positioned to respond through genetic diversity. The third research axis focuses on innovative breeding methods and diversification of agricultural practices involving crops like wheat, maize, wild species like Nigella, and perennial species like apple trees, as well as new intercropping systems.
Genetic Resources and Innovative Breeding Methods
Characterization of Genetic Resources: High-throughput genotyping methods have been developed to better characterize maize inbred lines and landraces, and efforts have been made in European projects to characterize genebanks of maize, legumes, and fruit trees. Information systems like Thaliadb and SHiNeMaS have been developed to manage genetic data and trace seed lots, respectively.
Efforts to detect genomic regions associated with environmental response and understand genetic diversity organization will be made. High-throughput characterizations will enable genomic and phenomic predictions for large collections.
On-Farm Management: Expertise in dynamic management of crop diversity on farms has led to new population varieties and participatory breeding programs.
Participatory breeding programs on wheat will continue, with similar programs for maize planned. Challenges include evaluating on-farm management systems and setting up co-breeding programs.
Pre-Breeding and Genomic Selection: Advances in optimizing pre-breeding selection cycles and revisiting hybrid breeding schemes for maize have been made. New genomic selection models for wheat and maize, as well as phenomic selection for orphan crops, have been developed.
Fast identification of diversity sources and their integration into elite breeding programs using genomic technologies is being explored. Pre-breeding programs are being developed through collaborations with seed companies.
Breeding for Diversification
Efforts have been made to popularize wheat varietal mixtures and evaluate mixed stands of wheat/pea and maize/bean. Solutions to manage the evaluation of mixtures and use of functional-structural plant models for ideotyping cultivars have been demonstrated.
New Farming Systems and Traits - Agroecological Transition: New farming systems integrating different levers to reduce industrial inputs and evaluating new traits for breeding will be developed. Participatory action research will ensure diversified field trials.
New Varieties and New Actors - Varietal Innovation: Breeding for diversification will involve creating complex hybrids and organic heterogeneous materials. Participatory breeding for the on-farm management of population varieties will continue.
Methodological Challenges
Genomic/Epigenomic Characterization: Improvement in the characterization of heterogeneous plant material.
Phenotyping Facilities: Better facilities for phenotyping large collections for different traits under variable conditions.
Mathematical and AI Models: Development of models to predict combining/mixing abilities.
Participatory Research: Involvement in participatory research actions and interdisciplinary approaches.