Bruno Desprez, Chairman of  the Coordinating Commitee of AKER  programme

«Of the 18.5 million budget allocated to the AKER sugar beet improvement programme, phenotyping accounts for more than 60% of the effort, in particular the phenotyping of seeds and seedlings. Two aspects are explored: one is descriptive (structural, physical and chemical analysis of the seed); the other one is physiological (germination, growth of the seedling under different conditions). The objective is to analyze and better "dissect" the variability observed and especially its dynamic, to associate it with the genetic variability produced in the other part of AKER. Non-destructive and, if possible, high-throughput equipment is preferred. The prediction of what happens in the field is of course the priority. INRA, GEVES and the University of Angers are 3 of the 11 partners particularly involved.»