Breeding Strategies for Soft Wheat Populations in Organic Farming

Breeding strategy comparison in organic soft wheat: manual crossing versus mixture creation. Two populations established in 2015—six parents crossed manually or mixed without crossing—evaluated over five years at two sites. Results show location adaptation and farmer selection had greater impact on agronomical performance and phenotypic diversity than breeding method. Manual crossing did not significantly increase genetic diversity compared to mixing. Mixture creation is simpler and more practical for farmers. Recommended for developing diverse wheat populations in organic systems. Findings from French agricultural research, published via Organic Farm Knowledge platform.