PROGReSs

The focus of the research project PROGReSs is on factors of yield components and the development of innovative selection tools for breeding. Breeders, biologists, agronomists, bioinformatics scientists, mathematicians, computer modelers, and developers of other innovative technologies will work together in an interdisciplinary network that combines iterative modeling with experimentally produced quantitative data. This systems biology approach will combine large amounts of highly complex data from three different levels of complexity - genomic, phenotypic and environmental data - in several iterative processes. To develop models that predict yield and the phenomenon of “heterosis” in rapeseed under different conditions, new techniques of high-throughput genotyping and phenotyping will be applied, amongst others through the use of field sensors and georeferencing under conventional breeding methods. Thus, a concrete basis for the provision of canola plants under varying site conditions will be created. Through the development of prediction models a significant acceleration of the breeding progress is to be achieved.