In order to prevent quality losses as a result of a thrips attack, non-organic growers need to spray the crop several times during the season, which is undesirable for humans and the environment. Organic growers do not have the possibility to intervene and can only sell their product as second class if the leaves are seriously affected.
Improvement of resistance to trips has therefore been the main objective in leek breeding for years now. Scientists of Wageningen University & Research support leek breeders in developing resistant varieties by trying to introgress thrips resistance from wild species into cultivated leek.