King of the North Pepper Breeding

Through the collaborative work done in the PSI, which has involved trialing existing public vegetable varieties on organic farms, the researchers have realized that for maximum performance, varieties destined for organic systems must be bred in these, with close involvement of organic farmers.

As a pilot project, the first year of funding was received from the Organic Farmer Research Foundation (OFRF) for a 3-4 year project to breed an open-pollinated cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) resistant bell pepper that is well adapted for Northeastern, Midwest and Northwestern climates. This virus has been ranked highly as a widespread problem by organic growers and, because of its wide host range, tends to be extremely destructive for growers with diverse cropping systems. In pepper, a very valuable and popular vegetable for most growers, particularly CSA's, CMV can be a severe constraint to pepper quality (it causes disfiguring fruit symptoms) and yield.

King of the North is already well adapted to northern and central conditions across the U.S., is favorable in organic systems, and has been selected and provided by Turtle Tree Seeds, a biodynamic seed company in upstate NY that sells certified organic seed, and a partner in this project. Elizabeth Henderson, an organic farmer in upstate NY, cooperates on this breeding project. Other farmers who have been involved through the PSI project will do quality and yield trials in year 2, 3 and 4. They will help to evaluate the breeding lines and can also select out their own favorite strains from our more variable populations.

** Margaret M. Jahn, Professor, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Cornell University, 313 Bradfield Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853; Phone: 607-255-8147; Email: mmj9@cornell.edu; ** George Moriarty, Research Support Specialist, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Cornell University, 106 Love Lab, Caldwell Rd., Ithaca, NY 14853; Phone: (607) 255-1241; Email: gm23@cornell.edu

Collaborative Breeding for and in Organic Systems

Organic varieties are the missing link in the organic production chain. Organic agriculture is currently reliant on conventionally bred varieties, and among these the variety choices are dwindling due to global changes and consolidation in the seed industry. Farmers can be excellent breeders when given the resources and knowledge. By linking public breeders with organic growers and organic seed companies and doing collaborative on-farm breeding, new organic varieties will be developed that meet farmers' needs.

This project, funded by NE SARE, began by having a series of regional organic breeding roundtable sessions that brought together organic farmers, breeders, and seed companies. The groups brainstormed the critical organic breeding needs that will form the foundation for six collaborative on-farm organic breeding projects. Breeders will work with six growers to collaborate on the organic breeding projects. These projects will be carried out starting in spring of 2005 and culminating at the end of the grant with six advanced breeding populations. On-farm twilight tours will involve growers throughout the project to help educate them in organic breeding and have them participate in the selection and breeding of the new varieties.

** Margaret M. Jahn, Professor, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Cornell University, 313 Bradfield Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853; Phone: 607-255-8147; Email: mmj9@cornell.edu. Michael Glos Email: mag22@cornell.edu

Open-Pollinated Field Corn Varieties for the Northeast

The general objective of this project is to provide information to farmers in the Northeast about open-pollinated (OP) corn varieties. Field research is focused on characterization and comparative evaluation of OP varieties of corn. The complementary outreach goals are to conduct an in-depth workshop and produce materials on seed saving techniques, to provide descriptive information to farmers and seed producers about OP varieties, and to make available agronomic evaluations and recommendations of OP corn varieties for grain and silage use.

Farmers interested in open-pollinated corns will have concrete information about the relative performance of varieties that are available in the market -- information that did not exist at all previously (and certainly not for the northeastern US specifically). This appears to be the only such broad-scale comparison of open-pollinated corns that has been done in the last three to four decades. In addition, farmers interested in producing organic seed of open-pollinated corn varieties now have additional information about varieties not currently being marketed that might be excellent marketing opportunities. This project is funded by USDA-NE SARE program. Collaborators include Margaret Smith and Jane Mt. Pleasant of Cornell University , Fay Benson (CCE Cortland Co.), and farmers Bob Burt (Herkimer Co.) and Mr. Luszczek (Tioga Co.).

**Margaret Smith, Associate Professor, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Cornell University, 410 Bradfield Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853

Tel: 607-254-8356; Email: mes25@cornell.edu

Identifying Field Corn Hybrids Adapted to Organic Production Systems

We are evaluating experimental field corn hybrids produced using publicly-available inbred parents under organic production. These hybrids represent germplasm that seed producers interested in marketing organic field corn seed would have ready access to. Farmers interested in producing hybrid field corn seed in New York will know which hybrids are best adapted and most productive under organic conditions. Organic growers will know which hybrids are the best performers under organic management and will be able to seek out seed of these hybrids for their farms. This project is funded from Hatch and new support for 2005 from a Towards Sustainability Foundation grant. Collaborators include Margaret Smith and Frank Kutka, Cornell University , and farmers Klaas and Mary-Howell Martens, Penn Yan

**Margaret Smith, Associate Professor, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Cornell University, 410 Bradfield Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853; Phone: 607-254-8356; Email: mes25@cornell.edu