ORGANIC PLANT BREEDING(OPB)

MANJUNATHA, G.A

DEPT OF PLANT BREEDING AND GENETICS

Looking to the adverse effect of chemicals (insecticides,

pesticides, fungicides, weedicides, chemical fertilizers) on

human health, soil health and environment, OPB is

gaining increased significance all over the world.

ORGANIC PLANT BREEDING

Organic plant breeding refers to development of

new crop cultivars without the use of any

chemicals.

IMPORTANT POINTS IN OPB

Organic seed- The seed that has been multiplied

under organic conditions at least for one

generation.

Organic varieties- Those cultivars that originate

from organic plant breeding techniques.

In the OPB, chemicals are not used neither in the

development of varieties or in their testing.

The entire evaluation of breeding material is

carried out under organic conditions.

In the OPB higher priority is given to quality of

the product than yield.

Organic varieties are produced under certified

organic plant breeding programmes.

Organic cultivation is also known as clean cultivation,

natural cultivation, green cultivation or eco-friendly

cultivation.

The organic produce of two types

Organic certified A and

Organic certified B

1.Organic A – The crop which is grown after three years

without the use of prohibited chemicals.

2.Organic B _ The crop which is produced in the first and

second year without use of chemicals.

DIFF B/N ORGANIC VARIETIES AND ORGANIC

SEED

Originate from OPB.

Tested always under

organic conditions.

Number of such

varieties is limited.

Originate from organic

or non organic plant

breeding.

Multiplied at least for

one generation under

organic condition.

Such seed is very

common.

Organic varieties Organic seed

OPB OBJECTIVES

Competitiveness with weeds- It is considered important for

organic varieties where weedicides are not allowed.

Plant stature- Generally, varieties for organic use tend to be

taller than those developed for non-organic production.

In OPB higher priority is given to quality than productivity or

yield.

In OPB higher emphasis is given to maintain biodiversity in

the variety.

Higher degree of resistance to biotic stress because

insecticides/pesticides are not allowed.

COMMON OBJECTIVES

Photo and thermo insensitivity.

Freedom from toxic substances.

Earliness so that a variety can well into multiple

cropping system.

Resistance to abiotic stress such as drought, soil

salinity etc.

Resistance to lodging.

Non shattering habit in legumes.

Wider adaptability and stability in production.

High photosynthetic and nutrient uptake efficiency.

BREEDING TECHNIQUES

The main objective of OPB is to develop crop cultivars that

enhance productivity and adaptability under organic

farming.

1) Plant introduction- Any exotic variety developed without

the use of any chemicals.

2) Selection

3) Hybridization

4) Biotechnology- The MAS can be permitted if GMOs and

radiations are not involved in marker production.

TECHNIQUES NOT PERMITTED

Genetic modification or GMOs.

Cytoplasmic male sterility based hybrids without restorer

genes.

Somatic hybridization or protoplast fusion.

Radiated mentor pollen for mutation induction.

Mutation induction with radiations or chemical

substances.

CHEMICALS PROHIBITED

In OPB as well as organic farming use of

chemicals is prohibited. Which include,

Inorganic fertilizers

Insecticides

Fungicides

Herbicides

Growth regulators

Defoliators

Seed treatment with chemicals

Treatment with irradiations ( X-rays, gamma rays

etc)

MATERIALS ALLOWED

Organic manures (FYM, compost, green manure,

cakes etc)

Fish meal

Leather meal

Cotton seed meal

Gypsum

Botanical pesticides (Neem, Datura, Ipomea,

tobacco, chillies)

Bioagents (parasites, predators etc,)

DIFF B/N OB AND NOB

PARTICULARS ORGANIC BREEDING NON-ORGANIC

BREEDING

Breeding methods used Which do not involve

radiations

All breeding methods

Major emphasis is on Quality Yield

Competitiveness with

weeds

High Low

Uniformity of produce Low high

Adaptation High Low

Use of chemicals Not permitted Permitted

Use of radiations Not permitted Permitted

Insect control Genetic resistance,

use of botanicals and

bio-agents

Mainly by insecticides

Disease control By genetic resistance By fungicides and

pesticides

Weed control By mechanical means Mainly by weedicides

Nutrient supply By organic manures Mainly by inorganic

fertilizers

Type of cultivation Sustainable Non-sustainable

Cost of cultivation Low High

Environmental pollution Nil Very high

ADVANTAGES OF OPB

It is used for developing cultivars and hybrids suitable for

organic farming. The use of organic varieties helps in

reducing the cost of cultivation by avoiding the use of

various agrochemicals.

Use of organic varieties is ecofriendly. It permits

multiplication of natural enemies (parasites and predators)

of harmful insects resulting in effective biological control.

In OPB more emphasis is given on improvement of quality

rather than yield.

In OPB use of chemicals is prohibited. As a result there is

no environmental pollution. This has favourable effect on

soil health, human health and animal health. The insecticides will not reach the food chain.

The beneficial soil microflora will increase and ground

water and rain water will be free from contamination of

chemicals.

Use of organic varieties will lead to sustainable

agriculture. It will not deplete the resources. In other

words it will promote judicious use of resources.

It promotes use of biological inputs such as organic

manures( FYM, compost, green manure, cakes etc.),

botanical pesticides (Neem, Datura, Ipomea, tobacco,

Calatropis, chillies etc.) which do not have any adverse

effect on the ecosystem.

DISADVANTAGES

Induced mutation play important role in developing new

varieties and creating extra variability for selection.

Banning use of this technique will have adverse effect on

progress of OPB.

Protoplast fusion technique play important role in gene

transformation. Banning of this technique will act as a

barrier in somatic hybridization.

GMO’s are used to solve those problems that can’t be

resolved by conventional breeding methods. The ban on

the use of GMO will have adverse effect in solving such

problems.

Tissue culture techniques such as embryo culture, ovary culture, anther culture etc. lead to extra variation which is used for selection of suitable material. Bann on these techniques will leads to prolong development of organic varieties.

The well known chemical colchicine is used for making interspecific hybrids fertile through chromosomal doubling. Banning the use of colchicine will have adverse effect on interspecific hybridization.

Banning of above useful techniques/chemicals will prolong the period of developing organic varieties.

The breeding efficiency will go down and breeding will be

more expensive.

Restriction on the exchange of materials between

traditional and organic breeding will have adverse effect

in the progress of OPB.

THANK U…….