Testing of suitability of ideotype and varieties of wheat for organic and low input agriculture

Abstract

Nowdays, wheat is the most important crop for organic farming system in the Czech republic. However, the varieties breeded and tested in the conditions of organic farming system are still missing. It gives rise to very low level of yield (less than 50% of level of convention one). That´s why the working version of the methodical procedure has been conceived. The methodology takes the different ideotype of plant that´s suitable for the environment-friendly farming systems into account. The methodology is being tested at several varieties and species of genus Triticum L. (wheat – winter wheat, spring wheat, landraces, conventional varieties and the varieties recommended for organic farming system, emmer wheat). It´s based on the Methodology of Central institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture of Czech republic for tests of VCU (Value for Cultivation and Use) (part of biological characteristics – resistance to diseases), the Classificator of genus Triticum L., which is used for the international evaluation of genetic ressources (part of morphological and economic characters). Some characters are also evaluated according to the handbook of Cereal variety testing for organic and low input agriculture (especially most problematic ones which have been defined by Wolfe, 2002 – competitivness to weeds, nutrient uptake and use efficiency, etc.). The methodology is divided into four parts: morphological, biological, economic and quality characters. It has been conceived to permit the testing of varieties on several levels. First level is proposal of features for screening of genetic ressources. The second level is testing of suitability of varieties for above mentioned farming systems. The third and very important is possibility of testing varieties directly in organic farm conditions by the farmers.