Smarter breeding with appropriate tools


Where target species are relatively undomesticated genetic variation is often very substantial. Simple selection of outstanding individuals from progeny of appropriate crosses can, when combined with clonal propagation, provide a direct means to capture large genetic gains many generations earlier than through inbreeding to obtain uniform seed.


Molecular breeding information can guide efficient crossing and selection. This provides a formidable capability for creating NuBred™ varieties. Molecular markers efficiently provide sets of “tags” covering the chromosomes. Where a desirable natural trait, such as insect resistance for example, is to be bred into new varieties, any tags located in the same region as the gene responsible for the trait can be identified much more easily than the gene itself. This allows the correct chromosomal region to be efficiently followed and bred into new varieties. NuPlant has capabilities with a number of molecular marker systems (RAPDs, micro-satellites, SNPs), which can be used as appropriate. Molecular breeding is particularly important where traits cannot be assessed for many years, and a predictive tool is needed; phenotypic selection can be more appropriate in many cases.
 

NuPlant also has exclusive rights to NovoMark's SequenceMasker system for its key target species. This system developed by Professor Chris Cullis allows identification of genes controlling valuable traits by taking advantage of representational difference analysis (RDA) to specifically home in on interesting regions of the genome and can be used in the absence of any other genomic resources.

SmartClone™ - Tougher plantlets faster

SmartClone™ changes the tissue culture paradigm. NuPlant’s key technology allows conditions to be customized for each growth phase for more robust plantlets, grading for uniformity, robotic handling for laboratory efficiency, easy soil transfer, and a head start for accelerated nursery growth.