Objectives
This general objective will be achieved through:
- the development of advanced backcross materials through the development of interspecific hybrids, backcross
generations towards cultivated eggplant, and introgression lines of wild genomes in the genetic background of cultivated
eggplant
- the production and dissemination of evaluation data for traits of adaptation to climate change as well as to other
traits of interest.
- the transfer of breeding materials to stakeholders through SMTAs, either for direct use or for being incorporated to
breeding pipelines
The project is focused on eggplant pre-breeding for traits relevant for adaptation to climate change, in particular for Southeast Asia and West Africa, through the use of the genetic diversity of wild relatives.
The project is also aimed at capacity building, including the formation of students or postdocs in pre-breeding for adaptation to climate change using modern tools in Spain and Taiwan.
The cultivated eggplant materials used in the pre-breeding activities will be varieties from the main cultivated types from the target regions (Southeast Asia and West Africa), which will facilitate the involvement of local seed companies and the implementation of participatory approaches in the agronomic evaluation of advanced breeding materials.
This work is part of the initiative "Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change: Collecting, Protecting and Preparing Crop Wild Relatives" which is supported by the Government of Norway. The project is managed by the Global Crop Diversity Trust with the Millenium Seed Bank of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and implemented in partnership with national and international gene banks and plant breeding institutes around the world. For forward informatin see the project website: http://www.cwrdiversity.org/
