Domestication, Breeding and Selection of Noninvasive Horticultural Crops: Feasibility Vs. Impracticality

Following the development of our noninvasive crop ideotype in 2006, a trait-based species design to develop crops as noninvasive a priori market release, we delineated additional components needed to bring such products to market. Education of consumers and professionals upwards through the horticultural distribution chain was identified as a critical component to create demand for noninvasive plants. Our auctions of invasive and noninvasive floriculture crops demonstrated consumer willingness to pay increases when plants are native and noninvasive. However, noninvasive plants have the same phenotype as invasive ones, which challenge breeders and producers to embrace the noninvasive ideotype without recapturing investments. The feasibility of risk assessment varies based on species’ trait constituents, adaptability, stability, and propagation modes. Additionally, the most rigorous procedures involve lengthy trialing over years and locations for proven trait stability, similar to the long-term developmental costs for winter hardy or GMO crops. To identify invasive potential, it would be feasible if spread and establishment occurs in the first decade or less of trialing in any or all target environments, i.e. Anthriscus sylvestris, Gaura lindheimeri, and Verbena bonariensis. Whereas it would be impractical for species requiring decades or centuries to establish, e.g., Leucanthemum vulgare, Lythrum salicaria or Phalaris arundinacea. For the impractical species, alternative approaches exist although each would involved considerable cost investments.