Seed of the future

Plant trait discovery

At KWS, we engage in trait research to gain insights into our plants’ genomes and to identify genes and molecular markers relevant to the development of beneficial plant traits. In this way, we develop regulated and non-regulated traits that offer farmers additional benefits beyond the continuous improvements we achieve through plant breeding.

The traits we develop ensure high yields, offer the option of using fewer inputs, help crops adapt to regional conditions (including climate, soil, pests, and diseases) and meet a range of consumer demands. Our trait development research encompasses the following areas:

Drought tolerance

As droughts become more frequent in some regions of the world, the availability of land, food and water is becoming increasingly difficult. This makes drought tolerance a priority trait. We develop explicit traits that enhance plants’ drought tolerance as well as their yield stability under drought conditions.

Fig.: KWS is developing varieties with increased tolerance to drought stress, e.g. in corn.

Fungal disease resistance

Every year, fungal diseases cause severe production losses. We develop resistance traits so that varieties have their own defense mechanisms to fight fungal infections. This reduces the need to chemically treat plants with fungicides.

Fig.: KWS invests in developing resistance to fungal diseases, e.g. in wheat.

Virus resistance

Plant viruses cannot be directly controlled by the farmer with chemical treatment and therefore pose a serious threat to agriculture. We develop virus-resistant traits that protect plants from the serious damage caused by these viruses.

Fig.: We are developing effective resistance traits to combat plant viruses, e.g. in sugarbeet.

Insect resistance

Climate change and global warming has led to agricultural pests migrating to new regions of the world and establishing themselves in these areas. We research traits that boost plant resistance to these harmful pests.

Fig.: The development of insect resistance is becoming increasingly important, e.g. in oilseed rape

Breeding technologies

Uniting craftwork and high technology, modern plant breeding calls for state-of-the-art methods and skills. Climate change and societal demands are adding to the existing challenges agriculture faces. To find solutions to these problems and sustain the world’s food supply, breeders must employ a variety of innovative methods and technologies. The following are a selection of the technologies KWS uses and further develops:

Sharped vision with digital phenotyping

On the field and in the greenhouse, innovative technologies now support a breeder’s “sharp eye.” At KWS, we rely on state-of-the-art camera and sensor technology as well as robotics and artificial intelligence to assess plant performance above and below the soil line. By using remote sensing technologies attached to drones or autonomous ground vehicles, we can phenotypically describe entire plant populations. In this way, for example, we can digitally record characteristics such as plants’ size, color, growth rate, the number and shape of their leaves, and other features.

Plant breeding, genomics and more

Plant breeding doesn’t just focus on recognizable traits, it also considers the underlying genetics of a variety. Today’s genetic analyses are fueling great advances in plant breeding. However, most traits that are improved through breeding are complex, which means they depend on many genes. This is the point where molecular markers and genomic selection come into play: Molecular markers can reveal certain plant characteristics before they appear. Genomic selection goes one step further and helps determine a plant’s potential for further breeding. This technology also enables us to test significantly more plant material and select the best-performing varieties.

By drawing on genetic data, we can improve both the genetic composition and breeding efficiency of plants. In particular, we have successfully driven forward the development of drought-tolerant corn varieties.

But we don’t stop at analyzing genetic data: We also integrate other omics data such as metabolism and protein profiles into our predictions.

It’s all about data

From digital phenotyping and genomic selection to digital field planning: All technologies draw on data. Data Science is at the heart of how we use breeding data to gain knowledge that helps us make better and faster breeding decisions. For this reason, we continuously improve our IT infrastructure, our approach to data integration and analytics as well as how we apply statistics, machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Haploid induction and development of double haploid plant lines

Hybrid breeding requires genetically homogeneous parental lines that breeders then cross to produce the hybrid varieties they desire. Breeders use a variety of techniques to produce these homogeneous parental lines, which are also known as double haploids. Since repeated self-fertilization is a very time-consuming method, we rely on in vitro techniques and inducer lines to produce our double haploids — and we’ve never stopped further refining them. In addition, we continuously research new strategies for haploid induction, cell culture and plant regeneration.

Stronger plants thanks to biologicals and seed treatment

KWS also focuses on the important research area of biostimulants and natural biological crop-protection agents, collectively known as biologicals. Biologicals include such microorganisms as fungi and bacteria as well as various plant-derived substances and microorganisms that have a positive effect on plant growth. We employ a special process to gently preserve these biologicals and apply them permanently to the seed. After sowing, the microorganisms multiply at the root, establish themselves in the soil and create favorable growth conditions for plants. Biologicals demonstrably strengthen plant growth and increase resistance to pests, especially when plants face stress conditions.

Phytopathology

Another important field in the development of plant varieties is phytopathology. The ban on some chemical pesticides, climate change and globalization are bringing back many plant diseases and pests, necessitating new approaches to secure yields in a more sustainable way. Phytopathology makes an important contribution here. The goal in this field of science is to closely monitor which plant diseases and pests are spreading or whether resistance in varieties is becoming ineffective. Important pathogens are cultivated and selectively applied to candidate varieties. In this way, it is possible to make an informed assessment in the greenhouse or in the field as to how susceptible or resistant a plant line is.

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Fig.: Drones are being used more and more frequently in plant breeding, because they allow precise knowledge about the growth of plants.
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Fig.: We use molecular markers to check properties in our plant lines.
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Fig.: Data is our capital from which we derive knowledge and breeding decisions.
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Fig.: Important for our hybrid breeding: the production of double haploid lines in cell and tissue culture.
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Fig.: KWS develops biological seed coatings for sugarbeet and other crops.
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Fig: In the focus of our research & development is the green peach aphid – a carrier of numerous plant-pathogenic viruses.

World of Farming

Would you like to know more about how innovations and new findings in areas such as data analysis, biological seed treatment or phytopathology contribute to progress in plant breeding? You can find out on our storytelling platform "World of Farming"

Profit from pests

KWS is committed to sustainable agriculture and contributes significantly to achieving the EU sustainability goals of halving the use of chemical crop protection by 2030. Phytopathology, the study of plant diseases and their control, plays a very important role in this area.

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Bio? Logical!

Seeds are particularly sensitive to diseases and pests immediately after sowing. To protect them from external stress factors and promote their development, they are often enveloped with seed coatings. These coatings may contain synthetic herbicides or biological plant protection agents, so-called Biologicals.

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Robots in the greenhouse

Sometimes research seems like a video game: The team Ben Gruber guides through the greenhouse using his laptop is ready and waiting at the starting gate. Previously, the KWS biologist had precisely defined the moves and paths of his interactive team: Which robot will leave its position when to then approach one of the numbered plant tables?

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