
INVITE: 4th annual meeting of the EU project on variety testing
More than 100 researchers and variety assessors met in Barcelona on 12-14 June to discuss the progress of the European INVITE project, which aims to improve variety testing methods in relation to biotic and abiotic conditions.
Promising phenotyping tools for measuring the characteristics of ryegrass, apple, tomato and maize varieties were presented. Molecular markers linked to the resistance of varieties to pests were developed for wheat, tomato, potato and apple.
The initial results of the analysis of the European maize trial network carried out by GEVES in collaboration with INRAE and other partners highlight the importance of characterising the trial environment, in particular its water status, in order to better evaluate the resilience of varieties to abiotic stresses.