DIVERSILIENCE aims to improve the productivity and resilience of organic crop production by better utilization of crop diversity, through research work performed in countries of Northern Europe (Denmark, Finland, Norway) and Southern Europe (Bulgaria, Italy, Romania, Slovenia). It will study and exploit the following levels of genetic diversity: (i) diversity within species, by germplasm improvement aimed to increase adaptation to organic farming and the changing climate as well as tolerance to challenging abiotic and biotic stresses; (ii) intra-species diversity, by developing evolutionary populations and variety mixtures of inbred crops and testing their advantage over genetically uniform crops in terms of weed, pest and disease control and increased resilience and yield stability; and (iii) inter-specific diversity, by developing a range of grain and forage legume-based mixtures and testing their advantage over crop pure stands. DIVERSILIENCE will develop novel germplasm along with scientific information aimed to support plant breeding, the development of heterogeneous material and the design of intercropping. There will be extensive participation by stakeholders, who will co-design and test intercrops with researchers and take part in participatory breeding initiatives and evaluation of new germplasm. The main target species will include several grain or perennial legumes (white lupin, lucerne, soybean, cowpea, common and runner bean), common wheat, buckwheat and maize, while several additional species will be envisaged for intercropping research. DIVERSILIENCE will include a number of dissemination initiatives.
In the Norwegian part of the project we conduct three different experiments; these are the results up to November 2022:
(i) Characterization of a European genetic material under Norwegian conditions. We have recorded phenotypic data throughout the two first growing seasons: flowering time, yield, growth cessation and survival. We have estimated the heritability of these traits in initial analyses and presented the results on an EUCARPIA conference. Analyses including genomic data is ongoing as part of a PhD. The experiment has been shown on field days and in teaching.
(ii) Forage mixtures: yield, quality and effect on the next (cereal) crop in the rotation. The field experiment is completed. Data on weed abundance, species composition, yield and forage quality have been recorded in the two first growing seasons (ley), while soil and yield data have been collected from the last growing season (barley). Samples have been sent for analysis of forage quality. Analyses of plant samples from the last season is ongoing. Results from all three growing season was analysed and presented in two master theses and two internship reports. The experiment has been shown on field days and in teaching.
(iii) Variety mixtures and selected populations of spring wheat. The experiment have been conducted at four organic farms and in two years. Preliminary results from the first year show that there are differences in the yield level among the tested material. Field days have been organized in both years.
DIVERSILIENCE aims to improve the productivity and resilience of organic crop production by better utilization of crop diversity, through research work performed in countries of Northern Europe (Denmark, Finland, Norway) and Southern Europe (Bulgaria, Italy, Romania, Slovenia). It will study and exploit the following levels of genetic diversity: (i) diversity within species, by germplasm improvement aimed to increase adaptation to organic farming and the changing climate as well as tolerance to challenging abiotic and biotic stresses; (ii) intra-species diversity, by developing evolutionary populations and variety mixtures of inbred crops and testing their advantage over genetically uniform crops in terms of weed, pest and disease control and increased resilience and yield stability; and (iii) inter-specific diversity, by developing a range of grain and forage legume-based mixtures and testing their advantage over crop pure stands. DIVERSILIENCE will develop novel germplasm along with scientific information aimed to support plant breeding, the development of heterogeneous material and the design of intercropping. There will be extensive participation by stakeholders, who will co-design and test intercrops with researchers and take part in participatory breeding initiatives and evaluation of new germplasm. The main target species will include several grain or perennial legumes (white lupin, lucerne, soybean, cowpea, common and runner bean), common wheat, buckwheat and maize, while several additional species will be envisaged for
intercropping research. DIVERSILIENCE will include a number of dissemination initiatives.