Con relación a los atributos de calidad:

GMO-free seed production

In vegetable species the supply of organic seed is very limited and the supply of seed from varieties that has been identified as suitable for growing in Denmark is almost non-existing. In a number of forage crops there is coinci- dence between species in which

■ GM-varieties are grown (in agriculture outside EU or in

release-trials within EU)

■ there is a risk of pollen dispersal and hybridisation ■ there is no or insufficient supply of organic seed

available.

This project has focussed on the development of an organic vegetable seed production in species that are grown on relatively large areas and where seed production in Denmark is expected to be possible. A number of these species such as carrot and cabbage use to be seed multiplied in Denmark in relatively large quantities. However, the production has been moved to France and Italy, in order to obtain a higher seed quality, since the crop ripens earlier and the prevalence of quality-deteriorating fungi is diminished.

Guidelines for an organic, GM-free seed production are produced in selected vegetable and forage species adapted for production in organic farming in Denmark. In addition the future aspects of maintaing organic, GM-free seed is evaluated.

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Identification of fungi on seed

The potential for using image analysis as technique for pathogen infection identification on seed has been screened. Carrot and spinach seed artificially infected with diffe- rent pathogens have been tested/measured together with pathogen spores deposited on a glass plate. The results are encouraging regarding the possibilities of using image analysis to identify fungal spores on seed. Spectral analyses of spores deposited on a glass plate indicate that the species can be identified using spectra from the spores. However, the amount of data from seeds was not sufficient to build a strong classifier due to focus problems. To test the possibi- lity of creating a classifier that could work in practice more data need to be collected.

Tunnelproduction of organic vegetable seed

From 000-005 different experiments with organic seed production of carrot, leek and cauliflower in tunnels has been carried out at DIAS. The tunnel is a 5 m * 50 m light-

weight tunnel with a plastic cover and insect-proof netting in the sides as ventilators. In general the temperature in the tunnels rose by °C compared to normal field conditions (Deleuran and Boelt, 00). Drip irrigation is done at soil surface which leaves the seed heads dry and thereby the risk of development and spreading of fungal diseases is reduced. All weed control is done by hand where needed and larvae’s of lady beetles (Coccinella septempunctata) are used to control aphids. Honeybees (Apis mellifera) are used as pol- linators. Fertilization is either applied as degassed animal manure or as Binadan. Binadan is a dried and compressed poultry manure. All harvests (harvest of single plants and swathing) are made by hand.

The performance of the harvested seed has been evaluated in the organic crop rotation at Research Centre Årslev.

Carrot

In 000 the open-pollinated cultivar Berlicum was grown in a tunnel and under normal field conditions using the root to seed system. VI.5 V ege table and F o rage Seed - de velo p men t o f an o rganic, G MO-f ree s eed p ro ductio n (V EF OS)

ten plants were cut (selected after maturity). For comparison plants were randomly selected for swathing at three times. In the tunnel each trial has three replicates. In the field there is no replicates and is only performed to give an indication of the potential level. In general this kind of production is not considered realistic under Danish field conditions.

Seed yields in tunnel production ranged from 105 - 73 g/m (1050 - 730 kg/ha) and in the field from 33 - 16 g/m (330 - 160 kg/ha). In both systems nearly no difference was observed between yields from single plant harvest and swathing. The highest yields were harvested from 1,5 x 1,5 cm plant spacing, and the lowest yield from 5 * 5 cm plant spacing. Seed weight and germination percentage in the tun- nel ranged from ,695 - ,955 g/1000 seeds and 7,3 - 87,7 %. In the tunnel 100 - 50 g seeds /m (1000 - 500 kg

seeds/ha) were harvested. In the field the seed yield has ranged from - 17 g seeds/m (0 -170 kg seeds/ha. In the tunnel production the seed weight ranged from 1,07 - 1,49 g/1000 seeds and the germination percentage of the seeds ranged from 85 - 93 and in the field the seed weight ranged from 1,18 - 1,44 and the germination percentage ranged from 43 - 55 %. In tunnel production seeds from primary and secondary umbels had a higher seed weight and germination percentage than under field production. Seed weight from ‘the rest’ was higher in field production than in tunnel production, but still the germination percentage was far from satisfactory.

Leek

Trials with leek (cv. Siegfried Frost) from 00 also compa- red tunnel production and field production using a root to seed system. Three plant densities have been tested (5x5 cm, 1,5x5 cm and 1,5x1,5 cm) and for each plant density

Cauliflower

Different trials have been performed in respect to hybrid cauliflower seed production in tunnels from 000-004 at DIAS. Hybrid seed production is possible but with varying results between plants and years (10 - 49,1 g/plant). In 001 analysis on seed weight and germination was made. On average of seven harvest times seed weight was 4,1 g/1000 seeds and germination percentage 8.

Discussion and conclusions

Organic seed production in tunnels has a great potential in carrot, leek and hybrid cauliflower. It is possible to harvest good quality seeds with a high germination percentage and seed weight.

Seed yield and germination percentage of especially seeds from the primary and secondary umbels (first positions) of carrot increased considerably in tunnel production com- pared to field conditions. The carrot seed yield in tunnel production is more than five times higher than from the field production, and -5 times higher than yields obtained in earlier years conventional production. In leek high yield and germination percentage can be gained in tunnel production. The plant density 1,5x1,5 had a negative effect on seed weight compared to the other plant densities. Cauliflower production is difficult due to fungal diseases and special emphasis on selection of areas free of sclerotinia sclerotium

must be made. VI.5 V ege table and F o rage Seed - de velo p men t o f an o rganic, G MO-f ree s eed p ro ductio n (V EF OS) Project leader Birte Boelt,

Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences, DK-400 Slagelse

E-mail: [email protected]

Project participants

Lise Christina Deleuran, Anne Mette Dahl Jensen, Gitte Kjeldsen Bjørn and Lars Bødker, Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Jens Michael Carstensen, Videometer A/S

Publications and further information

See the project website:

www.darcof.dk/research/darcofii/vi5.html and the internet-archive: www.orgprints.org

DARCOF conduct a number of activities intended to develop the research and to exploit the synergy resulting from cooperation between different research environments. In addition to coordination and management of research programmes, activities include knowledge syntheses, research development, international collaboration, research- training and research dissemination.

Knowledge syntheses

In DARCOF, synthesis of knowledge is an important instrument in clarifying particular problems, and for creating a more comprehensive, overall perspective on specific subjects. The latest work has been a knowledge synthesis on organic farming in a global perspective. The British publishers CABI have published the results of the synthesis.

Development of research methodologies and value appraisals

The undertaking of relevant and proactive research requires knowledge about the objectives and values in the system in question; in this case the holistic approach and the objectives and values that guide organic farming and the sustainable development of farming in general. In connection with this work, DARCOF has initiated the Danish discussion on values and principles and engaged in the revision of the founding principles of organic farming of IFOAM that were approved in the autumn of 005.

European and international collaboration At European and international level there is an increa- sing interest in organic and sustainable farming and in recent years, the EU Commission has financed a number of research projects in the area. The research projects in DARCOF II have formed the basis for a relatively large Danish participation in EU research programmes both for the scientists associated with DARCOF and for its secretariat. A list of EU research projects can be found on www.darcof.dk.

Research training and build-up of expertise A joint research school for organic farming (SOAR) has previously been established in cooperation between The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University and DARCOF. The aim of the school is to strengthen the quality of research training in organic farming. In the framework of DARCOF II, financial support has been provided for 3 Ph.D. projects in sustainable farming and food production. Please see www.soar.dk for further information

Dissemination

The research in DARCOF II is disseminated on a regular basis. DARCOF has since 1998 published a bi-monthly newsletter, DARCOFenews, which keeps subscribers infor- med of new research results etc. A free subscription can be obtained via www.darcof.dk.

Research is also continually presented in scientific articles, reports, scientific journals, etc. All the various documents are available via the open internet-archive ”Organic Eprints” (www.orgprint.org). A b ou t D AR COF