Wheat breeders' perspectives on genetic diversity and germplasm use: findings from an international survey

Abstract

Although there is much debate about the role of scientific plant breeding in the possible reduction of genetic diversity in commercially grown crop plants, few studies have recorded breeders' actual use of materials and their opinions about genetic diversity. One example, for U.S. agriculture, is the comprehensive study by Duvick (1984). In 1995, as part of a global, semi-annual survey of national wheat research programs, CIMMYT asked wheat breeders some basic questions about their use of germplasm materials by breeding goal and their opinions about varietal protection and genetic diversity. CIMMYT's study found that, around the world, wheat breeders working in national agricultural research programs use advanced lines and released cultivars more often than other types of germplasm in their crosses, but they use wild relatives and landraces in the pursuit of specific breeding objectives, such as resistance to disease or abiotic stress. CIMMYT germplasm is used at least as often in breeding for disease resistance as for yield. Wheat breeders in both high-income and developing countries generally believe that the primary effect of varietal protection would be to reduce their free use of advanced lines (as compared to other types of germplasm materials) from other countries. Most wheat breeders are concerned that, in the future, scientific advances may be inhibited because wheat genetic diversity is not available for their use; this concern is less pronounced among those working in high-income countries.