General goals
This platform is the most technologically advanced of NScTI Citrus and represents the interface for advanced improvement, where much of the previously generated information (markers, maps, genes and promoters), as well as genetic material (controlled crossing hybrids and genetic transformation events), is being validated under field conditions.
This allows for a reasonable approximation of the marker-assisted breeding strategy. The results of this platform come from experiments developed in partnerships with growers, the Citriculture Note 10 Program, and Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura. This platform provides results from long periods of observation, as citrus requires at least five years of fruit production and quality evaluations in the field before a cultivar can be recommended.
Specific objectives
- Prospecting SNPs in citrus genomes and establishing the platform to genotype mapping populations and the Citrus Active Germplasm Bank with SNP markers.
- Mapping by association and with SNPs markers the populations of hybrids for scion and rootstock cultivars of the breeding program.
- Maintain and expand the experimental network for the evaluation under field conditions of hybrids for scion cultivars.
- Maintain and expand the experimental network of potential new scion cultivars in working collections.
- Selecting new populations of hybrids for rootstocks from controlled crosses between different species.
- To evaluate the potential of citrandarins (hybrids of Sunki mandarin with Poncirus trifoliata) as dwarfing rootstocks.
- Expand the number of genotypes of citrumelos and Rangpur limes as rootstocks.
- Evaluate the potential of citrandarins, citrumelos and poncirus as inter-grafts.
- Maintain and expand the experimental network of potential new rootstock cultivars of the Embrapa Program in 17 states.
- Establish areas for the controlled release of genetically modified citrus, in accordance with current legislation.
- Evaluate the metabolism and efficiency of N use in different rootstocks of the breeding program.
- Compare the technical and economic viability of citrus production in a protected environment.
- Evaluate the potential of NAC for controlling CVC under field conditions.
- Evaluate the potential of biological control of citrus fungal diseases.
- To evaluate the alternative control of citrus canker with alkyl gallates.