Genetics, breeding and testing of technologies in agriculture

The purpose of the research, professional and developmental work in the program of genetics breeding and testing of technologies in agriculture is to solve problems connected to quality food production for humans and feed production for animals as well as problems connected to bee keeping and honey production. Research work in the field of genetics is focused on genome analysis of agricultural crops. We are particularly interested in chromosomal regions carrying resistance to diseases and pests and regions controlling quantitative traits. Research will be conducted as well in the area of population genetics of autochthonous agricultural crops and their wild relatives. The conventional methods of potato, grain legume, forage and lettuce breeding programs are going to be complemented with modern DNA techniques. The basis for the breeding process and the research associated with it is the germplasm collection of agricultural plants and their wild relatives at the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia. One of the goals of the germplasm collection is also preservation, evaluation and conservation of landraces and ecotypes of Slovenian agricultural plants. Implementing new technologies of crop production, cultivars adapted to the local environment and quality seed production is necessary for establishing environmentaly friendly and economically sound agriculture. Bee keeping program at the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia is focused on research associated with Carniolan honey bee, being the most widely spread honey bee in Europe. Investigating the present genetic and economic status of the Slovenian Carniolan bee population is the basis for further investigations, like following genes imported from other populations and races or enhancing production of honey and bee products.