Working With Your Environment Phenotype = Genotype x Environment
Environmental components Difficult to control: Temperature Extremes, heat units, length of season Light (day-length) Soil type Easy to control: Moisture Amount, timing Fertility www.isws.illinois.edu/data/altcrops/giclim.asp
Growing zones in Oregon Coastal 190 250 day growing season but cool Western Valleys Warm days & cool nights with 150 200 day growing season that varies greatly from year to year High elevation interior 90 120 day growing season; frost possible any month of year Snake and Columbia river valleys 120 200 day growing season, hot days and warm nights
Frost Hardiness or Cold Tolerance Hardy (withstand heavy frost) - spinach, onion, rhubarb, cabbage, collards and kale Semi-hardy (withstand light frost) beet, carrot, parsnip, lettuce, chard, pea, artichoke Tender (no frost tolerance) - bean, tomato, eggplant, pepper, corn, melons and squash, sweet potato
Optimum Temperature Range Cool season: (55-65 F) cauliflower, pea, spinach, brussel sprouts (60-70 F) broccoli, Chinese cabbage, cabbage, celery, collards, kale, head lettuce, rutabaga, turnip (65-75 F) beet, bulb onion, carrot, leaf lettuce, mustard, potato More tolerant, wide range of adaptability: (60-80 F) cucumber, green onion, squash (65-80 F) bean, chard, corn, muskmelon, parsley, pepper, radish, soybean, tomato Warm season: (70-85 F) eggplant, okra, sweet potato, watermelon
OSU Tomato Releases Tomatoes Willamette VF Medford Large German Cherry OR Cherry OR 11 Gold Nugget OR Spring Santiam OR Star OR Pride Oroma (Roma) Saucy (Roma) Siletz Legend
Indigo Rose Saladette-Type Tomato
R e s o u r c e s Oregon Vegetable Production Guide: http://hort-devel-nwrec.hort.oregonstate.edu/vegindex.html Vegetable Breeding Program Variety Trial Reports: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/details.php?sortnum=0624&name=vegetables&num _results1=31&s=12&num_pages=3&sort=snumbera Local Seed Catalogs: Territorial: www.territorial-seed.com Siskiyou Seeds: www.siskiyouseeds.com Adaptive Seeds: www.adaptiveseeds.com Nichols: www.nicholsgardennursery.com Osborne Seed: www.obsorneseed.com Wild Garden Seed: www.wildgardenseed.com Other resources for finding varieties: Garden Seed Inventory (Seed Savers Exchange www.seedsavers.org) E. Schneider - Vegetables from Amaranth to Zucchini A. Goldman - Heirloom Tomatoes (also melons & squash) OSA - www.seedalliance.org/seed_companies_selling_organic_seed
Breeding and Variety Trials 6 crops for season extension: Broccoli (heat tolerance) Snap Peas (heat tolerance) Sweet Corn (direct seed) Carrots (overwintering) Butternut Squash (storage) Farmers Choice 9 varieties / crop 5 common across regions 5 commercially available
NOVIC trials evaluate performance of organic & non-organic varieties and breeding lines from university & independent plant breeders Is variety appropriate and well-adapted for organic systems? Does variety fill a market niche (season extension)?
Participatory Methods Collaborating Farmers and Seed Companies identify: varieties they have experience with check varieties other varieties evaluation criteria Active participants during meetings Facilitate discussion Share at Field Days and Workshops
Evaluation Criteria Germination & Vigor Heat/Cold Tolerance Susceptibility to Insect, Disease, Weed Pressure Plant Architecture Fruit Appearance: Shape, Size, Color, Uniformity Days to Harvest Yield Flavor Storage
tastings
Performing Variety Trials on your Farm
Trial Practicality & Objectives Who will perform trial? Do you have the space? Which crops are worth trialing? Economically important Introducing or expanding Seed source issues What are your objectives? Evaluation criteria Diversify your market Insect resistance? Side shoots? Organic replacing conventional seed
Search seed catalogs Talk to others Refer to OSA reports Choose a check variety OP and Hybrid Variety Selection Multiple checks if multiple criteria (early, particular size, good storage, etc.)
Determine & Plan Methods Randomized, replicated trials Draw numbered tags out of a hat and record in a map Genetic differences vs. field variability Breaks between varieties
Importance of Consistency Treat each variety equally Inputs Irrigation Potting soil Select uniform location Soil Irrigation Drainage Sun exposure Avoid the edge effect
Keep a good research log Recordkeeping Variety names with seed source Planting/transplanting dates Emergence, Maturity, etc Varieties should be identifiable through the season Make a map (tags disappear!)ma machinery, or Mother Nature.
When to Score a Trial Score trial at multiple times depending on objectives Project dates to score based upon timing of planting Keep watch so crop doesn't get ahead of you
Invite an Additional Set of Eyes Farmers, interns, consumers, chefs or buyers for a grocer or distribution company Integrate customer feedback
How to Score a Trial Evaluation template w/ your criteria Use a 1-9 or 1-5 scoring range Begin with one trait, determine how you will measure. Stick with the same assessment technique. Always find 1s and 9s first Record your observations
1 2 3 4 5 Canopy Ratings
Assessing Data Numerical measurements Qualitative scoring Observational notes Observation vs. Replicated
Resources NOVIC (w/database): http://eorganic.info/novic Organic Seed Alliance: On-Farm Variety Trial Guide Participatory Plant Breeding Toolkit www.seedalliance.org/research/ovt_pubsreports www.seedalliance.org/publications/ Organic Seed Partnership: www.plbr.cornell.edu/psi Guide to Seed Saving, Stewardship & Sovereignty Adaptive Seed Josh Volk Consulting & Classes: www.joshvolk.com BOOKS: Crop Planning for Organic Vegetable Growers and Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades