Designing and Viewing Field Maps in BreedBase

These are tips for creating field maps in BreedBase. We hope this information will assist you when assigning row and column numbers to your plots so you get the design that you want.

Format the trials / experiments file to include a field map

A note about single and multi-trial data sets: The design for the field maps is the same whether you are loading a single trial or multi-trial data sets into BreedBase.

Required Columns for Field Map

Although the following columns are optional when uploading a field trial into BreedBase, they are required if you want to create a field map. Some of these columns will influence the colors of the plots on your map, while others will influence the orientation of the field map.

is_a_control – Enter a value of 1 into this form field if the plot is a control. Otherwise, enter 0 or leave the form field blank. The controls (1) will have a different plot color than the non-controls (0). In the field map example below, the dark colored plots are the controls and the lighter colored plots are the experimental accessions.

rep_number - Replicate number. Must be numeric.

row_number – The row number represents the y-coordinate. Required for field map generation. Must be numeric. In the initial field map design, the top left plot will be row 1, column 1.

col_number – The column number represents the x-coordinate. Required for field map generation. Must be numeric. In the initial field map design, the top left plot will be row 1, column 1.

Row and Column Number Orientation

The row and column position in the BreedBase map correspond to the rows and column positions as if it were an Excel table. Rows run up and down the page (y-axis) and columns run left and right (x-axis).

The example below is a serpentine pattern going across the rows and then advancing to the next column.

A sample field map from BreedBase, serpentine pattern, showing the first plot in the upper-left corner.
A sample field map from BreedBase, serpentine pattern, showing the first plot in the upper-left corner.

Viewing your Field Map

Many breeders like to start their first plot in the lower left corner of their field. This can be achieved with this example but will require you to rotate the field map:

 

  1. On the top toolbar, navigate to Manage   >   Field Trials.

  2. Expand the tab under your program. Double-click on the field trial that you want to see.

  3. Scroll down to ‘Field Layout Tools and Phenotype Heatmap’. Click to expand.

  4. Your field map will be displayed.

  5. Click on the green button “Rotate Map”.

  6. This will turn the map 90˚.

  7. Clicking the rotate button three times will position the #101 plot (first plot) in the lower left corner of the field. [See field map below.]

 

The rotation of the field plot has now changed the row and column positions. The original row numbers are now running left to right and the original column numbers are now running top to bottom.

 

The same sample field map from BreedBase, but this time with the first plot in the lower-left corner.
The same sample field map from BreedBase, but this time with the first plot in the lower-left corner.