28 / SEEDWORLD.COM FEBRUARY 2018 NN: Our breeding efforts go for the Tobamovirus complex, Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus, nematodes with special attention to Meloidogyne enterolobii. Phytophthora is another disease that requires research and breeding efforts, and next, Xanthomonas. AM: Disease package depends on loca- tion. Some environments are more con- ductive than other for certain diseases. The East Coast U.S., with high humidity levels, is more conductive for bacterial problems, dry locations are more suscep- tible to host viruses and insects, and loca- tions with heavy rain will present more problems in the roots of the plants. What is the biggest challenge for a breeder when developing a new sweet pepper variety? BM: The biggest challenge comes with combining new traits that are relatively easy to see and understand the value of with all of the standard requirements a grower is always requesting. To do all of this and do it before anyone else is able to get a similar product to market is defi- nitely challenging.  NN: A breeder needs to combine external market information originating from vari- ous channels like plant raisers, growers, chain and the end consumer with internal vision on how the market will develop. The breeder has to have good relation- ships with the internal marketing and sales organization to hear developments outside the company. AM: Try to introduce resistance genes for new pathogens or pests. Usually only wild materials have these unique sets of genes, along with many deleterious genes.  Do you find that you have sufficient access to new germplasm, or has this been made more difficult because of the new regulations on access and benefit sharing? BM: Monsanto fully supports the aims of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and our policies and procedures for germplasm acquisition, use and sharing of externally-acquired material are in full compliance with the requirements and obligations under access and benefit shar- ing laws. Nevertheless, further guidance and clarity on various issues (such as clear definition of genetic resources and R&D within scope) need to be provided by the regulators or national authorities in various countries. Therefore, Monsanto supports cooperative efforts on the part of the industry and regulatory agencies to ensure that the pathway to compliance is clear, simple and as nondisruptive as possible. NN: Access to new germplasm is indeed becoming more and more difficult due to new regulations. The Nagoya Protocol is putting pressure on the parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity to create more clarity on national access and benefit-sharing regulations. This means we have to comply with an increasing number of national regulations, which quite often do not take into account the specifics of the plant breeding sector, where many genetic resources are used to create new genetic resources. We especially struggle in those cases where the scope of the regulations is expanded beyond wild plants and landraces, and countries claim sovereign rights over commercial varieties that were developed by private breeding companies. MN: Innovation is the core motivation of every breeder and access to genetic diversity is key for innovation. This has never been a blocker for us, as we have large internal wild collections, and also access to national gene banks, but we are eager to see clear access and shar- ing guidelines implemented. AM: It’s more and more difficult every day with the new regulations and patents. We look for public banks and companies are now collaborating more, interchanging commercial hybrids. What innovations (technological, genetic, molecular etc.) are in the pipe- line in sweet pepper breeding? BM: The use of molecular markers is definitely helping us combine traits faster and more efficiently than in the past. Expect to see more hybrids with multiple disease resistances. Markers are also allowing us to more quickly fix specific disease resistances that in turn allows for more time and effort on selection of traits associ- ated with flavour, eating ability, quality and appearance. I think you will see a greater range of cutting-edge disease resistance in more of the smaller speci- ality pepper segments. More coloured bell products from open field produc- tion may appear as more Americans gain an appreciation for the health ben- efits and enhanced flavour of colored peppers.  MN: New colors, new shapes, new tastes, higher digestibility are some examples for our future diversification pipeline. We recently released the first seedless snack pepper with enhanced taste and we intend to follow up with a full product line (red, orange, yellow, green) to entertain our consumers. AM: We are working on developing several molecular markers for differ- ent traits related to disease resistance, yield and quality. Trying to introduce a robust resistance package helps the grower to reduce chemical applications which reduces their costs. Also, hybrids with ample adaptability facilitate grower production practices, reducing their cost. SW “The use of molecular markers is definitely helping us combine traits faster and more efficiently than in the past. Expect to see more hybrids with multiple disease resistances.” — Bill McCarthy