Transition from Trait to Environment (TTE)

Let's read this report by IRRI, "IRRI Scientists Introduces New Breeding Approach to Harness Genomic Selection in Challenging Environments".

They develop a new breeding approach, called “Transition from Trait to Environment (TTE)”.

Figure 1. Breeding schemes for developing flood-tolerant genotypes. (A) Traditional method: a submergence-tolerant donor is crossed with high-yielding lines to combine traits. (B) Redesigned approach: elite genotypes with fixed submergence tolerance are intercrossed, and progenies are evaluated under natural flooding to select for yield and agronomic performance. Trait submergence tolerance is already fixed among the parental genotypes. (https://ricetoday.irri.org/irri-scientists-introduces-new-breeding-approach-to-harness-genomic-selection-in-challenging-environments/)

這是為了提高作物對氣候變遷的耐受度，也就是提高作物適應逆境環境。在育種時，傳統育種是先從高產量的品系開始，然後再慢慢加入能適應逆境的性狀來做篩選。TTE則是直接從能適應逆境的作物開始，再去篩選出高產量的後代，此時因為親代本來就都帶有適應逆境的基因，所以所有的子代都能適應逆境，此時只要專注於篩選出高產量的即可。