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Organic growers need vegetable varieties that are adapted to organic growing conditions and hold market qualities demanded by organic consumers. The research and extension activities outlined in this proposal will address these needs by focusing on traits identified by our advisory panel as critical for carrot, one of the most important organic vegetable crops.<P> Long-term goals and outputs of the project include development and release of carrot germplasm with improved disease and nematode resistance, weed competitiveness, marketable yield, nutritional value, flavor, and storage quality; improved understanding of cultivar responses to organic production systems and identification of additional desirable traits; improved understanding of cultivar responses to organic production systems and identification of additional desirable traits; improved understanding of soil quality, nutrient availability, and microbial communities in organic and conventional growing conditions; informed growers and consumers about the positive environmental impact of organic production systems, and about carrot nutritional quality and flavor; demonstration of techniques and challenges associated with organic carrot seed production; and training undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs in critical organic agricultural issues.
Non-Technical Summary: <BR>Organic growers need vegetable varieties that are adapted to organic growing conditions with market qualities demanded by organic consumers. With these needs in mind, novel colored carrots will be grown in paired organic and conventional field trials across major commercial carrot production areas of the US and evaluated for crop performance (including yield, flavor, disease and pest resistance, and weed competitiveness), storage capability, and nutritional value. Soil characteristics will be analyzed across cropping systems and locations. Organic farmers will participate in the breeding, variety trials and planning aspects of the project. Results will be disseminated widely through eOrganic, outreach programs, agricultural publications and field days. This project will develop and release of carrots with improved field performance, nutritional value, flavor, and storage quality. Soil quality will be compared with regards to nutrient availability and microbial communities in organic and conventional growing conditions. Growers and consumers will be informed about the positive environmental impact of organic production systems, and about carrot nutritional quality and flavor. Techniques and challenges associated with organic carrot seed production will also be shared with growers; and students will be trained in critical organic agricultural issues. We expect this project to benefit organic agriculture by delivering improved carrot varieties for organic producers and consumers, and by providing a breeding model that may be adapted to other crops for organic cultivar development. <P> Approach: <BR> A wide variety of novel colored carrot accessions will be grown in paired organic and conventional field trials across major commercial carrot production areas of the US and evaluated for crop performance including yield, flavor, disease and pest resistance, and weed competitiveness; storage capability; and nutritional value. Soil physical, chemical, and biological characteristics will be analyzed across cropping systems and locations. Engaged organic farmer and industry stakeholders will participate in the breeding, variety trials and planning aspects of the project. Results will be disseminated widely through eOrganic, outreach programs, agricultural publications and field days. We expect this project to benefit organic agriculture by delivering improved carrot varieties for organic producers and consumers, and by providing a breeding model that may be adapted to other crops for organic cultivar development