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Dear New Farm,
I would like to thank James Beaver for pointing out productive
‘mainstream’ (mostly vertical resistance dependent)
bean breeding efforts in Mexico and Central America whose
goal is pest and disease resistance. Had I the resources to
write an article comparing and contrasting the various bean
breeding programs in Mexico, I would have loved to do so (any
funding out there for such an effort?).
Writing on deadline on the road in Mexico presents interesting
challenges. Within these confines, my intention was to elucidate
a unique and unduly ignored approach to crop improvement—horizontal
resistance breeding of the pure type (all vertical resistance
genes purged) as was developed in Mexico by Niederhauser and
Robinson. I also wanted to illustrate how successful scientific
efforts such as the horizontal resistance breeding programs
can be not only ignored, but be the subject of bias by scientists
because they don't fit into the existing paradigm.
Don Lotter
Dear New Farm:
Your article by Don Lotter, Ph.D. was inspiring and seems
to fit all I know with regard to the politics of breeding.
Could you give me contact information for Don Lotter? I would
be most grateful.
Sincerely,
Tim Peters
Peters Seed and Research
Editor’s note:
Don Lotter may be reached at Don@DonLotter.net.
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