Research

In order to make new varieties, a sound knowledge and application of many different elements of biology are required. That is why, at Rijk Zwaan, the breeders are supported in their work by phytopathologists, seed technologists, cell biologists, molecular biologists and biochemists. These researchers develop new characteristics and methods for faster and more efficient development of plants.



Partners
Together with a few other vegetable seed breeding companies, Rijk Zwaan is also one of the partners in Keygene NV, a research company located in Wageningen, the Netherlands, which focuses on upstream molecular-biological research in plants.

Phytopathology
Phytopathology is the study of plant diseases. The phytopathology group supports the breeders by, among other things:
· carrying out resistance tests
· developing new test protocols
· research into seed-borne diseases

Seed technology
The seed technology group supports the breeders by, among other things:
· research into germination vigour of seed
· research into storage life of seed
· cleaning and grading methods
· priming methods which give the seed more uniform or faster germination
· disinfecting methods to render the seed free from diseases

Cell biology
The cell biology group supports the breeders by, among other things:
· maintaining and multiplying parent lines using tissue culture
· making genetically uniform double haploid lines, obtained by using tissue culture to allow immature pollen grains or unfertilised egg cells to develop and mature
· using tissue culture to allow embryos, which resulted from species crossings, to develop and mature


Molecular biology
The molecular biology group supports the breeders by, among other things:
· developing techniques which allow breeders to establish immediately whether a plant will have certain characteristics (‘molecular markers’) from the DNA of (small) plants
· carrying out pre-selections in breeding material with molecular markers
· carrying out quality tests of commercial seed with molecular markers (testing for varietal trueness and preventing inbreeding and other undesirable seed)


Biochemistry
The biochemistry group supports the breeders by, among other things:
· measuring undesirable substances, of which we want as few as possible in our crops, e.g. nitrate in leaf vegetables
· measuring desirable substances, such as the pigment in carrots and tomatoes, vitamins and minerals
· measuring substances which influence the development of a plant, the quality of the harvested product or the germination vigour of seed