Wild and primitive Solanum genotypes are usually propagated using tubers or true seeds. The suitability of fifty eight potato genotypes for propagation using meristem culture was tested in this study. The culture medium was consisted of Murashige and Skoog salts. Almost all tested genotypes give well developed shoots and high fresh weights as well. Root formation was lower than that of shoots which could be improved using growth hormones. The results showed that wild and primitive forms of potato could be propagated using in vitro meristem culture.

This publication reports the effects of set-aside programmes on the development of the fauna. Extensive counts of the fauna which were found in catching cups, and supporting investigations led to the result that especially the self-sowing variants represent an essential attraction for the epigeous fauna and other small animals. In general it can be concluded that the set-aside areas are a kind of resting period for the fauna so that also from this point of view the set-aside programmes are of ecological importance.

This publication reports some crop scientific and ecological considerations about the basic paper of the European Commission for the future development of a common agrarian policy in connection with the concept of an INTEGRATED LANDMANAGEMENT which was established by the Institute of Crop Science of the Federal Research Centre of Agriculture Braunschweig-Volkenrode (FAL). The most important prerequisite with respect to a correction of the production processes, which are in some cases ecologically harmful, is the enlargement of the crop rotation system. This is the key to relieve the markets of surplus products as well as to reduce the ecological burden of the agrarian systems. This report gives examples, and at the same time it suggests to give ecological points for the valuation of the farmers' ecological efforts regarding land management of agrarian systems.

The present paper should illustrate by means of a few examples that an ecological landmanagment can only be effected if the species' diversity within the agricultural used systems will be increased. The prerequisites for this increase of species' diversity can only be fulfilled if plant species besides the food and feeding stuff sector will be cultivated. Therefore it is extremely necessary to accelerate the development of the industrial and energy plant production and to accept that the plant species suitable for this purpose will be judged ecologically positive in the sense of an integrated landmanagement.

The experiments to investigate the influence of set-aside programmes on the nitrate concentration in soil water led to the following results: The absolute height of nitrate content in soil water is determined by the agronomical structure of the field, independent of the way of set-aside programme. The self-sowing of set-aside areas leads to reduced nitrate contents in soil water. In case of selected sowing, high biomass yield leads to high nitrate value in soil water. Legumes should not be used for sowing of set-aside areas because they will lead to an increase of nitrate content in soil water.

This paper reports about first results of field and pot experiments with Miscanthus sinensis "Giganteus". Unless all these results are provisionally, it can be stated out that this species of plant represents an essential part in the frame of consideration about utilization of raw material of plant origin. The annual yield capacity of this plant exceeds the one of all native species including fast growing woods. As expected many questions arise regarding the integration of this plant - which until now was only used as ornamental plant - into the agrarian cultivation systems, The current institute's research order is to give answers to these questions. Nevertheless, it can be stated already today that Miscanthus sinensis "Giganteus" will be an important source of raw material for industrial and energetic use.

This publication reports about the structure of yield of Jerusalem artichoke. Investigations were carried out in form of hydroponics with special experimental pots. Almost during the development of the shoot the tuber formation was initiated in the beginning of stolone formation. The tuberous thickening of the end of stolones usually began with the flower formation and continued till the death of the plants. With more than 70 % the essential formation of tubers occured during the flowering period. In the course of plant growth there was formed a tuber stock with tubers of first, second and third order. The size of a single tuber at the end of vegetation as well as the dry matter yield was dependent on the time of tuber formation. The earlier the tuber was formed, the bigger it was. Tubers of the first order were bigger and heavier than tubers of second and third order. The dry matter yield of tubers of one plant mainly based on tubers which were formed during flowering period. Proportionally the tuber stock consisted of more tubers of higher order.

The hybridization barriers of interspecific lupin crosses were determined by histological investigations. The cross Lupinus hartwegii x L. mutabilis (both of American origin) revealed embryos in the cotyledonary stage as well as cellular endosperm. In the reciprocal combination, L. mutabilis x L. hartwegii, embryo development stopped at the end of the globular stage, and simultaneously the coenocytic endosperm did not differentiate into the cellular state. In the combination L. luteus (European origin) x L. hartwegii, embryo as well as endosperm development were initiated. Embryo development ended at an early globular stage. Twelve days after pollination the coenocytic endosperm had almost degenerated. With L. hartwegii as the female, no pollen germination could be observed.

Embryo and endosperm development of Lupinus luteus, L. mutabilis and L. hartwegii was investigated by histological methods. Nine days after pollination the embryos of all three species were in the early- or mid-globular stage and had a fully differentiated suspensor. Fifteen days after pollination they achieved the heart stage and three days later the cotyledonary stage. Position and shape of the suspensor as well as the size of the huge nuclei of L. luteus was completely different from L. mutabilis and L. hartwegii. At the beginning only coenocytic endosperm was built up in all three species. Twelve days after pollination, at the end of the globular stage, a high mitotic activity could be observed followed by the formation of cellular endosperm. In L. luteus the first endosperm cells appeared near the micropyle and in L. mutabilis and L. hartwegii in the vicinity of the embryo and the suspensor.

The objective of this study was to investigate the breeding potential of the inulin-containing root chicory which has potential as a new industrial crop. Polycross families and reference varieties were grown in field experiments at 3 locations to assess their performance and the amount of variation available for breeding. Significant variation between polycross families for all characters except for glucose content and the ratio total sugar/dry matter content was observed. Compared to ‘Fredonia’, 12 out of 72 polycross families gave between 15 % and 24 % more total sugar yield. Preliminary estimates for the heritability of two yield components were calculated by means of the parent-offspring regression analysis. Additive genetic variance seems to determine the inheritance of fructose and total sugar content. All findings suggest that the total sugar yield of root chicory can be considerably increased by breeding.

The Institute's work on preservation, evaluation and utilization of plant genetic resources of grain legumes is presented. Preference is given to those species which can be cultivated in Middle Europe as there are field bean, pea, French bean and lupin. This research field includes the collection and storage of seed samples as well as investigations on the evaluation of different provenances and activities in breeding research. The genetic potential is evaluated in field experiments concerning morphological, phenological and yield-determining characteristics. In the laboratory the seeds are examined for quantity and quality of seed contents. The data found out are prepared for computer use and then documented in order to make them always available to interested parties. The native grain legumes are plant genetic resources which have been neglected up to now, which, however, can be most important in the future due to agro-political, economical and ecological reasons. In order to make grain legumes competitive again in agricultural systems, it is necessary to make up for decades of neglect in their specific treatment. Therefore, special efforts in breeding research and practical plant breeding are necessary. The basis for that reintegration of grain legume culture is to increase grain yields considerably and to improve the yield stability. Breeding work on the potential of characteristics in genetic resources aspires to produce basic populations or lines, respectively, with high grain yield and improved yield stability in field beans, peas, yellow and blue lupins for use as industrial crops for the production of chemical raw materials (f.e. starch, protein and others) as well as for the production of proteinrich feeding stuff for animals. The production of those chemical raw materials mentioned from crops for industrial use means at the same time a decrease of surplus production on the food sector.