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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » National Clonal Germplasm Repository » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #415143
Research Project: Conservation and Utilization of Temperate-Adapted Fruit, Nut, and Other Specialty Crop Genetic Resources

Location: National Clonal Germplasm Repository

Title: Breeding new cultivars for climate adaptation

Author
item CONTRERAS, RYAN - Oregon State University
item NACKLEY, LLOYD - Oregon State University
item Scagel, Carolyn

Submitted to: Digger
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2024
Publication Date: 6/25/2024
Citation: Contreras, R., Nackley, L., Scagel, C.F. 2024. Breeding new cultivars for climate adaptation. Digger. July 2024:33-37.

Interpretive Summary: Ornamental Plant Breeding Programs for climate adaptation requires cultivar development for resilience to unpredictable climates. When we introduce plants into the urban and suburban environments, we are asking them to be beautiful, resilient, and sustainable under some of the worst conditions possible for plants. These include small soil volume, poor quality and compacted soil, high heat loads, and drought. Unfortunately many plants that are resilient to these types of conditions are also weedy or invasive, thus breeding programs must also work toward developing new cultivars by breeding for traits that limit invasiveness. This article describes how developing seedless cultivars of plants that not only survive, but thrive in difficult conditions is among the main approaches used to breed for the future.

Technical Abstract: Ornamental Plant Breeding Programs for climate adaptation requires cultivar development for resilience to unpredictable climates. When we introduce plants into the urban and suburban environments, we are asking them to be beautiful, resilient, and sustainable under some of the worst conditions possible for plants. These include small soil volume, poor quality and compacted soil, high heat loads, and drought. Unfortunately many plants that are resilient to these types of conditions are also weedy or invasive, thus breeding programs must also work toward developing new cultivars by breeding for traits that limit invasiveness. This article describes how developing seedless cultivars of plants that not only survive, but thrive in difficult conditions is among the main approaches used to breed for the future.