Wheat producers look to breeding in place of sprays

摘要

The need for wheat varieties that are more suited to their growing environment has never been greater, because of climate change, environmental concerns and increasing consumer resistance to agrochemicals. "As growers, our reliance on sprays to solveproblems in the field will reduce," predicts Velcourt technical director Keith Norman. "At the same time, the ability of the wheat plant to fend off disease and pests, or cope with drought stress will go up, as discoveries at the genetic level increase."