Plant Breeding
Introduction
Plant breeding is the science of changing the traits of plants in order to produce desired characteristics. It has been used to improve the quality of nutrition in products for humans and animals. The techniques used to change plant characteristics will depend on the mode of plant reproduction.
History of Plant Breeding
The history of plant breeding dates back to the domestication of plants, where early farmers selected food plants with particular desirable traits, and used these as a seed source for subsequent generations, resulting in an accumulation of beneficial traits over time.
Techniques in Plant Breeding
Plant breeding can be accomplished through many different techniques ranging from simply selecting plants with desirable characteristics for propagation, to more complex molecular techniques.
Selection
Selection is the most ancient and basic procedure in plant breeding. It involves choosing specific plants with desirable characteristics from a naturally occurring population and propagating these in order to create a new population with improved traits.
Hybridization
Hybridization is the process of crossing two genetically different individuals to result in a hybrid that may carry the desired traits of both parents. This method is commonly used in breeding of maize, rice, wheat and other crops.
Mutation Breeding
Mutation breeding is a method where the genetic information of an organism is changed, in a stable manner, by means of physical or chemical mutagens. This results in a mutation which is then bred back into the population to increase the frequency of the desired mutation in the population.
Molecular Breeding
Molecular breeding or marker assisted selection is the process of using the techniques of molecular biology to alter the genome of a species. This is a recent development in plant breeding that has resulted in significant advances in crop improvement.
Benefits of Plant Breeding
Plant breeding has been practiced for thousands of years, and has resulted in significant benefits for human society. These include increased productivity and yield, improved nutritional content, resistance to pests and diseases, and adaptation to different environments and growing conditions.
Challenges and Ethical Considerations
Despite the many benefits of plant breeding, there are also challenges and ethical considerations that must be taken into account. These include the potential for loss of genetic diversity, the impact on traditional farming practices, and the ethical considerations around genetic modification.
Future of Plant Breeding
The future of plant breeding lies in the development of new technologies and techniques, such as genomics and genetic engineering. These technologies allow for more precise and targeted changes to plant genomes, and have the potential to greatly increase the speed and efficiency of plant breeding.