The root vegetable, celebrated for its health benefits, depends heavily on seed production, with Aotearoa, New Zealand, contributing over half of the global carrot seed supply. Carrots are cultivated annually from fresh seed, necessitating a consistent supply of quality seed to sustain global production.
Research from Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University's School of Agriculture and Environment, funded by the Seed Industry Research Centre and supported by AsureQuality, is the first to model climate change impacts on carrot seed production. The study, led by Senior Research Officer Craig McGill, utilized 18 years of data to assess these impacts.
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Carrot seeds in New Zealand are primarily produced in Canterbury and Hawke's Bay, regions that have seen temperature increases since 2015. Asharp Godwin, a PhD researcher involved in the study, highlights the sensitivity of seed production to climatic conditions. "Carrot seeds are generated from the plant's flowers above ground, which can grow up to a metre tall and bloom in the summer with bright white flowers. This plant growth is highly sensitive to climatic conditions, meaning any changes directly impact the yield."
The study analyzed temperature and rainfall data from 2005 to 2022 across 28 seed-producing locations. The research focused on the impact of atmospheric conditions during key growth stages: juvenile phase, vernalisation, floral development, flowering, and seed development. Increased temperatures were found to negatively affect flowering, impacting seed development, while high rainfall during reproductive and flowering phases reduced seed yield.
The research underscores the vulnerability of carrot seed yield to climate change. Elevated temperatures disrupt viable seed production, potentially reducing seed availability for carrot cultivation. Although plants may survive, heat stress can impact seed viability.
Asharp emphasizes the importance of this research for policy guidance to mitigate damage and address food insecurity. "I hope that this research will provide the data needed to develop climate-resilient carrot seed crops through biotechnological techniques, identify potential sites for carrot seed production and adapt precision agriculture practices in response to climate change."
Asharp's PhD research received support from a Sri Lankan AHEAD Scholarship, an AsureQuality Seed Technology Scholarship, and financial assistance from the School of Agriculture and Environment and the Helen E. Akers Postgraduate Scholarship. The project will expand with two additional PhD candidates joining the research.
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