Projects and new results in organic carrots by CIOA

U.S. organic farmers surveyed listed improved seedling germination and Alternaria leaf blight resistance as top breeding priorities for field production of organic carrots. Nematode resistance is also very important formgrowers. Flavor was deemed the most important consumer trait to improve in carrots, and nutrition the most important product quality variable for consumers. To address these needs, field trials of 34 diverse carrots varying in top size, disease and pest resistance, root shape and color, flavor, and nutritional value were evaluated by the Carrot Improvement for Organic Agriculture (CIOA) Project on both organic and conventional farms in California, Indiana, Washington, and Wisconsin. Wide ranges of seedling growth rates and canopy sizes were observed in this diverse carrot germplasm that includes, not only orange carrots, but also novel purple, yellow, and red storage root colors. Top height varied two-fold among entries at a given location, and fresh carrot flavor (sweetness and harsh, turpentiney flavor) also varied widely among the genetic stocks evaluated across the locations and production systems. Relative top height ranking among genetic stocks was quite consistent, with no system-by-variety interaction detected for this trait. Relative ranking of flavor scores was also relatively consistent across locations. Soil assays comparing the organic and conventional trials at each site indicated significant differences among locations, and between organic vs. conventional paired trials in all four locations, including labile organic matter pools, and bacterial, fungal and archeal community composition. Nematode and Alternaria leaf blight resistance trials demonstrated a wide range of variation among genetic stocks. Other diseases observed in some of the trials were bacterial blight, Cercospora leaf spot, and powdery mildew. The CIOA Project reached approximately 160 farmers in 2012-13 with education on organic breeding and variety trials. ? Original tittle, authors and sourcesThe CIOA (Carrot Improvement for Organic Agriculture) Project: Location, Cropping System, and Genetic Background Influence Carrot Performance Including Top Height and FlavorPhilipp W. Simon1, John P. Navazio2, Micaela Colley2, Lori Hoagland3, Philip A. Roberts4, Lindsey du Toit5, Tim Waters6, Erin Silva7, Jed Colquhoun7, Joe Nunez8, Cathleen McCluskey2 and Jared Zystro91-USDA, Madison, WI,2-Organic Seed Alliance, Port Townsend, WA,3-Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN,4-University of California - Riverside, Riverside,5-Washington State University, Mount Vernon, WA,6-Washington State University Extension, Pasco, WA,7-University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI,8-University of California Cooperative Extension, Bakersfield, CA,9-Organic Seed Alliance, Port Townsend, WA., USA Carrot and other Apiaceae International Symposium, 17-19 September 2014, Angers, France,?http://www.symposium-carrot-apiaceae2014.fr/ Picture by?www.carrotmuseum.co.uk ? Key wordsPoscosecha??????? postcosecha????? postharvest?????? na-oes? ?????????????? ?????????????????????? post-r?colte????? ????????????????????????????????????????????? na-oogst???????????? post-raccolta???? Obr?bka po?????? p?s-colheita????? ???????????????????????? hasat sonras????? ??????????????? Ernte???? ????????????????????????? ?????????????????????? postcollita?????????? poskliz?ov頠???? ?????? ????????????????? ??????????????? nakon branja???? pozberov頠?????????????????????? obdelovanje zemlje po??????????????? post-colleita????? ??????????????? pascapanen??????????????? ?il?onn postharvest??????? ????????????? p?c ra?as???????????? derliaus apdirbimas polepas tuai??????????? ??????????? post-recoltare???????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????? ?????????????????????? ??????????????????????????? sau thu ho?ch??????????????? ?????????????????????????????? zangemva kwenkathi yokuvuna Zanahoria???????????????????????? carrot??? wortel? ?????????? ?????????????????? karoto? carotte????????????????????? ??????????????????????? carota?? marchew??????????? cenoura?????????????? ??????????????????? havu砠? ???? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ??