Wisconsin Fast Plants

      Dr. Paul Williams, a plant pathologist at the University of Wisconsin spent about 15 years to develop the Wisconsin Fast Plant, Brassica rapa. Dr. Williams, through selective breeding, was able to speed
up the development process more than ten times – it can go from seed to seed in less than six weeks. His objective in developing this plant was to speed up his study of plant diseases. He started with more than 2,000 Brassica seeds and observed a few that would complete the development process in a shorter period of time. These selected plants became the parents for the cross-breeding process. The final progeny became an ideal experimental plant, as they:
       • Are small and compact
       • Grow well in crowded conditions.
       • Grow well under constant light
       • Produce a large number of pollen/eggs and fertile seeds.
       • Produce seeds without dormancy.

 

Calendar of Fast Plant Development

 

       • Day 0 - Planting
       • Day 2-3 - Cotyledons Emerge
       • Day 4-6 - First True Leaves Emerge
       • Day 7-9 - Flower Buds Appear
       • Day 10-12 - Growth Spurt
       • Day 14-18 - Pollination
       • Day 19-35 - Seed Pods Develop

                (Click on photo for larger picture)