Carlos Muñoz Schick Ingeniero Agrónomo, M.S., Ph.D. Facultad de Ciencias Agronómicas Universidad de Chile Located in the SW of South America, occupies an area of 756.098 km2 (75 million ha). Extends from latitude 17º30’S to 56º30’S, for 4.326 km, which is equivalent to 1/10 of the Earth circumference, making Chile the larges country in the world, but is also the narrowest, with an average width of only 180 km, around parallel 70ºW. It is a mountainous country, flanked to the East by the Andes Range and to the West by a Costal Range, leaving a large Central Valley, where most of the agriculture take place. The total cultivated land amounts to 5,1 million ha; meadows, 11,2; introduced forest species, 1,0; and, native forest species, 5,6 million ha. Total Chilean population 17.373.917 Annual Population Growth 136,8 (in thousands), 5-year period (2015 – 2020) Men 49,5% Women 50,5% Life expectancy at birth 79,7 (in years), 5-year Period (2015 – 2020) Urban Population 87,0% Rural Population 13,0% GDP: . USD $ 277 billions (2017) . 0,45% of the world economy GDP per capita: . USD $15.070 purchasing power parity GDP composition by sector: . Agriculture: 6,3% . Industry: 38,2% . Services: 55,5% Major industries: copper and other minerals, foodstuffs, fish, wood and wood products EXPORTED ITEM PERCENTAGE Fresh Fruits 27 Paper and cellulose 21 Wine 13 Wood 12 Processed fruits and vegetables 8 Meat (porck, poultry, bovine, lamb) 7 Others 12 Climate varies from desert type climates in the North and steppes type climates in the South. Between latitudes 27º and 43ºS, Mediterranean and Temperate Climates predominates. Precipitation occurs mainly in winter, increasing from N to S and from E to W. Because of this, many agricultural activities require irrigation. This area is generally free of polar winds, hail, tornadoes, excessive snow, etc., which is ideal for intensive agriculture. Back to my main topic: Of the more than 300.000 species of vascular plants on Earth, only about 300 have been domesticated. Less than 30 species constitute the food base of humanity. Only 12% of the plant families have contributed with domesticated species. Few plant families (Graminae, Leguminosae, Solanaceae, Rosaceae) provide the bulk of the species of agricultural interest. There are over 6.000 species of vascular plants in Chile. 85% of the species are native, and 50% of them are endemic. 21,3% of the vascular native flora has been reported as useful or, at least, with potential use. REGISTERED USE NATIVE INTRODUCED Food 177 212 Feed 201 194 Chemical 417 109 Medicinal 277 108 Forestry 45 33 Ornamental 36 64 Taxa with registered use 1,238 (21,3%) 778 (86,2%) Total taxa 5.801 903 CHILE AS CENTER OF ORIGIN OR CENTER OF DIVRESITY Center of Origin . Potato (Solanum tuberosusm sp. tuberosum) . Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) . Tomato (Lycopersicon chilense) . Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) . Alstroemerias (Alstroemeria spp.) Center of Diversity . Corn (Zea mays) . Rice (Oriza sativa) . Lentils (Lens culinaris) . Cheak peas (Cicer arietinum) Alstroemeria spp. (Alstroemeriaceae) Leucocoryne spp. (Alliaceae) Gunnera tinctoria Nalca, Pangue (Gunneraceae) Puya chilensis Chagual, Puya (Bromeliaceae) Ugni molinae murtilla (Myrtaceae) Aristotelia chilensis Maqui (Elaeocarpaceae) Eulychnia acida Copao (Cactaceae) Solanum muricatum Pepino dulce (Solanaceae) Araucaria araucana Piñón (Araucariaceae) Gevuina avellana Avellana chilena (Proteaceae) Bromus mango Mango, Mangu (Gramineae) Chenopodium quinoa Quínoa (Chenopodiaceae) • BERBERIDACEAE • Scientific name: Berberis microphylla G. Forst. • Common name: calafate • EMPETRACEAE • Scientific name: Empetrum rubrum Vahl Ex Willd. • Common name: murtilla de Magallanes • ERICACEAE • Scientific name: Gaultheria phillyreifolia (Pers.) Sleumer • Common name: chaura • Scientific name: Pernettya mucronata (L. f.) Gaud. Ex Spreng. • Common name: chaura, chaurán • Scientific name: Pernettya pumila (L.f.) Hooker • Common name: Chaura • MYRTACEAE • Scientific name: Myrteola barneoudii Berg • Scientific name: Myrteola nummularia Berg • Common name: Daudapo • ROSACEAE • Scientific name: Rubus geoides J. SM. Ex Hook. • Scientific name: Rubus radicans Cav. • Common name: miñemiñe or frutilla Calafate Murtilla de Magallanes Chaura Berberis microphylla Empetrum rubrum Pernettya mucronata Chaura Daudapo Miñemiñe Gaultheria phillyreifolia Myrteola nummularia Rubus geoides Genomic-assisted breeding for the rapid development of superior lines: Forward Breeding, Genomic Selection, etc. Gene editing can speed up plant domestication, if few important characters are manipulated: seedlessness, thornlessness, disease resistance, fruit firmness, etc. BREEDER CROP Ricrado Pertuzé Bell peppers, artichokes, tomatoes Native vegetable species. Rodrigo Infante Stone fruits, kiwi fruit, Rootstocks (walnuts) Carlos Muñoz / Loreto Prat Blueberries, Native species Danilo Aros Ornamentals: Alstroemerias and other native species. Edmundo Acevedo / Paola Silva Cereals with drought resistance Cecilia Baginsky / Herman Silva R. Grain Legumes, pseudocereals of local origin Herman Silva Asencio Genomics Strategically located in the Southern hemisphere, allowing plant breeding in diverse environments. Ideally suited for counter-season breeding activities for Northern hemisphere locations, providing opportunities to test segregants twice a year. Research expertise in a variety of species, including fruit and vegetable crops, cereals, grain legumes, ornamentals, etc. Ample opportunities for domestication of native species. Expedited import and export procedures for plant material. Low incidence of pests and diseases. Clear rules and regulations for conventional and transgenic plant materials. Ample availability of irrigation water. Well trained and experienced scientists and technicians. Qualified labor force. Good correlation with some environments in the Northern Hemisphere, facilitating effective selection for important traits in many crops. Thanks for your attention .