Breeding for Resistance to Biotic and Abiotic Factors in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: General Situation and Current Results in Annual Caraway (Carum carvi L. var. annum)

SUMMARY

An analysis of 302 scientific publications on resistance research and breeding in medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP) during the last 3 decades shows that the activities have been intensified in this field, mainly in Europe and America. This reflects the increasing importance of MAP. The current state of resistance research and breeding of poppy, coriander and fennel, investigated very intensely, is presented in detail. Our own studies in annual caraway were used as an example of which approaches are necessary before resistance breeding can begin.

Within the last 30 years, mainly Europe and America have experienced an increased trend towards healthy diet and natural products. This trend led to a growing demand for medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP), which is partly satisfied by collections of wild-growing plants, but to an increasing extent by cultivation. A negative consequence of the growing concentration in cultivation is an increase of pathogens and pests. They can cause economically considerable losses in yield and quality unless appropriate control measures are introduced. Approved pesticides are usually not available. In addition, there are reservations against the application of pesticides. Therefore, the breeding of resistant cultivars is gaining more importance, as is reflected by the high number of topic-related scientific publications.

KEYWORDS:

• Medicinal and aromatic plants
• resistance research and breeding
• poppy
• diseases
• pests
• coriander
• fennel
• caraway
• Phomopsis diachenii