Plant Genetics
Plant breeding guided by artificial intelligence.
Design and delivery of programmes to adapt varieties to a changing climate, resist pests and diseases, and improve their commercial traits.
Services for growers, nurseries and cooperatives.
AI-guided breeding programmes, marker development, genetic traceability and molecular diagnostics.
We run the full programme, with a prediction model that ranks the material before it goes to the field. Alongside this, we develop markers associated with traits of interest, differentiate varieties and carry out diagnostics for pathogens and viroids, using our own sequencing and bioinformatics.
Plant breeding programmes
Our plant breeding programmes develop new varieties adapted to the agronomic conditions and commercial requirements of each crop. The starting point is a prediction model trained on genomic and transcriptomic data for the species, generated by long-read sequencing, which resolves variants that short reads cannot reach. The model ranks the material before it goes to the field, predictions are tested in our laboratory, and those results feed back into the model, which improves with every cycle.This approach, combining several layers of molecular data with machine learning, is well established in human genomics, where our scientific lead has applied it directly. Our work is to bring it across to crops.The markers and regions the model identifies become the targets for the work that follows, combining traditional selection and crossing with marker analysis (SNPs, STRs, InDels), marker-assisted selection (MAS) and gene editing (CRISPR), the last of these only where the regulatory framework of the crop and of the target market allows it.The result is plants with higher yields, greater tolerance to heat and drought, better nutritional and organoleptic quality, and production cycles adapted to different systems. And predicting before planting reduces the land, water and inputs currently spent on material that will never reach the market.AI prediction models
It is the same model that underpins our breeding programmes, trained for a single species and handed to teams with the capacity to run it themselves.The model estimates, from the molecular profile of each individual, the probability that it will express the trait being sought. Field work then confirms a shortlist rather than searching the whole set, and the decision to discard no longer waits for the plant to show what it is.It also identifies the regions and markers associated with that trait. A validated marker is reused in later crosses without further sequencing, so the value of the work does not end with the project that paid for it.There is no generic model valid for any crop, because the molecular signals that predict a trait do not carry over between species. Each one is trained on the data available for the species, including the records the client already holds.Diagnostic services
Our plant health diagnostic services enable the precise and reliable detection of pathogens in plant samples using cutting-edge molecular technologies. We employ conventional PCR and real-time qPCR for the rapid and sensitive identification of specific pathogens such as viruses, viroids, bacteria, and fungi, even in the early stages of infection when symptoms are not yet visible. These techniques deliver quantitative and reproducible results, essential for decision-making in crop management, breeding, and phytosanitary programs.In addition, we offer RNA sequencing, allowing for comprehensive and unbiased detection of any known infectious organism within a sample. This approach provides a complete view of the plant-associated microbiome and facilitates the identification of mixed infections and emerging pathogens.Varietal differentiation
Varietal differentiation is a specialised service that enables the genetic identification and distinction of varieties within the same plant species, ensuring traceability, authenticity, and protection of high-value plant resources.To achieve this, we employ next-generation sequencing (NGS) and molecular markers (SSRs, SNPs, InDels, STRs, among others), which provide highly specific and reproducible genetic profiles. These tools allow us to detect even the smallest DNA variations, guaranteeing precise differentiation between varieties that may appear morphologically indistinguishable.This type of analysis is essential for plant breeding programmes, varietal certification, intellectual property protection, and quality control across agricultural value chains, as it ensures the correct identification of materials and prevents misidentification or commercial fraud.Molecular markers developement
Molecular marker development involves the identification and validation of new DNA sequences associated with traits of interest in plants, such as disease resistance, tolerance to abiotic stresses, fruit quality, maturation cycle, or specific morphological characteristics.Using next-generation sequencing (NGS), genomic analyses, and genotype–phenotype association studies, we can discover highly reliable molecular markers that serve as precise tools for marker-assisted selection (MAS) in plant breeding programs.The use of these markers makes it possible to accelerate selection processes, shorten generation cycles, and increase efficiency in obtaining new varieties with desired traits, ensuring reproducible and predictable results.Connect with Our Experts
Discover how our advanced biotechnology solutions can protect and transform your high-value crops.
Do you have any questions?
Here you can find out more about our plant genetics services, from marker-guided breeding programmes to our genetic traceability analyses.
What are Leafgene Solutions' main services?
Our work is organised into three areas:
- Plant genetics, where we design and run breeding programmes guided by artificial intelligence, alongside molecular markers, genetic traceability and pathogen diagnostics.
- In-vitro culture and plant sanitation, with protocols to eliminate viruses and viroids in high-value crops and recover pathogen-free mother plants.
- Biotech consulting, to bring all of the above into the strategy of growers, nurseries and cooperatives.
What does your plant genetics service consist of?
We develop varietal improvement programmes to obtain varieties that are more tolerant to climate change (drought, heat) and with valuable commercial traits (hop aroma, quality of red berries, ripening adaptation on the vine or persimmon). We offer genetic traceability, creating molecular profiles that guarantee varietal authenticity and protect intellectual property. We also provide any type of bioinformatics analysis and can perform DNA/RNA extraction and sequencing.
How to work with us
Fill out the online form, indicating the crop and service you are interested in (in vitro plant health, plant genetics, or biotechnology consulting). Our team will respond within 72 hours with a tailored proposal.