Page 36 - Breeding and regulatory opportunities, Renaud

Chapter 1

In order to answer RQ3, the broccoli heads derived from the ield trials described

for RQ2 were analysed for phytochemical compound concentrations. As plots

approached maturity, ive broccoli head tissue samples were harvested fresh

from each subplot at each trial location and were composited into a single sample

per replication. Each sample was analyzed for the glucosinolates (glucoraphanin,

glucobrassicin, neoglucobrassicin), tocopherols (δ-, γ-, α- tocopherol), and

carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin, β-carotene) by high-performance liquid

chromatography (HPLC). For the genotype by environment by management

system analysis, data analysis included analysis of the partitioning of variance,

trait means, genotypic correlations, ratio of correlated response to direct

response, stability analysis, GGE biplots and phenotypic correlations. For the

phytochemical trait analysis, phytochemicals were analyzed per cultivar and

per genotypic group.

1.6 Outline of the thesis

The empirical core of the thesis is presented as four articles that report and

analyse the indings of the studies outlined above. Figure 1.3 visualises the

organisation of the thesis.

The thesis is structured as follows:

Chapter 1 introduces this thesis. It provides the context and justiication for the

research, background information on the importance, tensions and challenges

of evolving an appropriate seed regulatory framework, and the implications

for seed development and seed breeding in the organic sector. The problem

addressed, research objectives, hypotheses and main research questions are

stated. The research design and research methodology are presented for each

part of the research.

Chapter 2 reviews and analyses the evolution of organic seed regulation

in the US, as a model case of how challenges in a new regulatory area are

being addressed. The study draws on formal interviews of key stakeholders,

participant observation, and documents generated in the six-year period

between mid-2007 and 2013. Analysis of the evolving interpretation of organic

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