teelrij

Teelrij is a Dutch term used in horticulture and animal breeding to denote the organized process of breeding, selection, and propagation aimed at developing and maintaining improved plant varieties or animal lines. The concept covers setting breeding objectives, evaluating candidates for desirable traits, choosing mating or propagation parents, and propagating the resulting lines by seed or vegetative methods. The goal is to produce stable, uniform lines or cultivars that express the targeted traits across generations. Teelrij distinguishes breeding activity from routine cultivation by focusing on genetic improvement and lineage management.

In plant breeding, teelrijs are lines or cultivars that have been selected and are propagated to preserve their traits. They may be tested for performance, resistance to pests or diseases, quality attributes, and adaptation to environmental conditions. In animal breeding, teelrij refers to breeding lines or stocks maintained to express particular characteristics, with pedigree records and genetic evaluation guiding selection. Seed production, certification, and intellectual property regimes (such as plant variety rights) can intersect with teelrij work, affecting how lines are released for commercial use.

The term is most common in Dutch-speaking regions, especially the Netherlands and Flanders, and it reflects a long-standing horticultural and agricultural breeding tradition. See also plant breeding, animal breeding, seed production, cultivar, and breeding line.