The key role of biomolecular lab in plant breeding 🔍🧬
In a varietal breeding program, we often think first about the trial plots. But many key decisions are actually made long before the field: in the laboratory.
At MAS Seeds, the biomolecular laboratory is a central link in the selection cycle: it turns DNA into actionable information for breeders by targeting key genes of interest (disease resistance, yield potential, tolerance to water stress…) and eliminates very early the plants that don’t match the desired profile. In practice, the team can step in as early as the 2–3 leaf stage. The result: we gain 4 to 6 months in the breeding cycle, focusing field resources on the most promising lines.
Each year, the lab generates around 14 million data points, meaning more than 500,000 DNA samples analysed in-house. This data then feeds artificial intelligence to predict the best crosses and the most promising lines. Less guesswork, more precision, and at the end of the cycle, varieties that are better adapted to real field conditions.
Find a product
Discover a full range of maize portfolio for all uses grain, silage or biogas, for organic agriculture, for temperate or tropical regions.
Contact us
Our local teams visit farms and distributors on-site to give you the best advice for your location. Find your local MAS Seeds consultant by visiting a country website or fill out our contact form here.
Discover other news and media
In 2026, the R&D department has structured a network of experimental farms dedicated to regenerative agriculture research. Why set up experimental farms? Regenerative agriculture relies on a holistic, farm-scale approach to crop rotations and long-term planning. However, traditional R&D methods, based on field-scale trials conducted over a single growing season, do not allow for a […]
Can we predict a variety’s performance… before it’s ever been observed in the field? That’s one of the challenges we’re tackling at MAS Seeds. With Industry 4.0 tools, our approach to variety selection is evolving in a meaningful way: 🌱 Our maize and sunflower varieties are now better described and documented through advanced statistical analysis. […]
You may have noticed the mention “Act for Regenerative Agriculture” displayed on MAS Seeds seed bags of maize.This wording aims to make visible, directly on our products, our commitment in favor of regenerative agriculture. Why talk about regenerative agriculture today? For over fifteen years, farmers have faced stagnant and unstable yields in many agricultural regions. The progressive degradation of […]