Plant Genetic AND Plant Breeding

Plant genetics is the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity specifically in plants. ... He observed that organisms (most famously pea plants) inherit traits by way of discrete "units of inheritance". This term, still used today, is a somewhat ambiguous definition of what is referred to as a gene.

Plant breeding is a deliberate effort by humans to nudge nature, with respect to the heredity of plants, to an advantage. The changes made in plants are permanent and heritable. The professionals who conduct this task are called plant breeders

“plant breeding” is often used synonymously with “plant improvement” in modern society. It needs to be emphasized that the goals of plant breeding are focused and purposeful

Plant breeding is the science of changing the traits of plants in order to produce desired characteristics.^[1] It has been used to improve the quality of nutrition in products for humans and animals.^[2] Plant breeding can be accomplished through many different techniques ranging from simply selecting plants with desirable characteristics for propagation, to methods that make use of knowledge of genetics and chromosomes, to more complex molecular techniques (see cultigen and cultivar). Genes in a plant are what determine what type of qualitative or quantitative traits it will have. Plant breeders strive to create a specific outcome of plants and potentially new plant varieties.

Importance and objective

Plant breeding is an art and science, which tells us ways and means to change the genetic architecture of plants so as to attain a particular objective. Plant breeding can be accomplished through many different techniques ranging from simply selecting plants with desirable characteristics for propagation, to more complex molecular techniques Plant breeding has been practiced for thousands of years, since near the beginning of human civilization. It is now practiced worldwide by individuals such as gardeners and farmers, or by professional plant breeders employed by organizations such as government institutions, universities, crop-specific industry associations or research centers. International development agencies believe that breeding new crops is important for ensuring food security by developing new varieties that are higher-yielding, resistant to pests and diseases, drought-resistant or regionally adapted to different environments and growing conditions.

 The objectives may be

o  Crop improvement

o  Improved agronomic characters

o  Resistance against biotic and abiotic stress.

o  Novel and exotics varities

o  Improved quality

o  Varieties Resistant to Lodging

o  Increased Production

 

The steps of plant breeding

ü Collection of genetic variability

ü Evaluation of germplasm and selection of parents

ü Cross-hybridization between selected parents

ü Selection of superior hybrids

ü Testing, release, and commercialization of new cultivars.

Types of Plant Breeding

There are the following different types of plant breeding:

Backcrossing

In this, a plant with desired traits is crossed with a plant that does not have the desired traits but has several other traits.

Inbreeding

In this, the fertilize by themselves. The progeny produced is the same generation after generation. This helps to preserve the original traits.

Hybrid Breeding

In this, two different are crossed to produce the offspring that is more productive than the parents.

Mutation Breeding

The mutations in plant genes result in new varieties. Mutations can also be induced in plants by exposing them to chemicals and radiation.

Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering helps in producing crops with desirable traits by inserting the gene of interest within the crop DNA. Such crops are known as genetically modified crops.

 

The role of plant breeding in modern agriculture-

The world population is estimated to be 9.2 billion in 2050. To sufficiently feed these people, the total food production will have to increase 60% - 70%. Climate models predict that warmer tem-peratures and increases in the frequency and duration of drought during the present century will have negative impact on agricultural productivity. These new global challenges require a more complex integrated agricultural and breeding agenda that focuses on livelihood improvement coupled with agro-ecosystem resilience, eco-efficiency and sustainability rather than just on crop productivity gains. Intensifying sustainability agro-ecosystems by producing more food with lower inputs, adapting agriculture to climate change, conserving agro-biodiversity through its use, and making markets to work for the small farmers are needed to address the main issues of our time. Plant breeding has played a vital role in the successful development of modern agriculture. Development of new cultivars will be required while reducing the impact of agriculture on the environment and maintaining sufficient production. Conventional plant breeding will remain the backbone of crop improvement strategies. Genetic engineering has the potential to address some of the most challenging biotic constraints faced by farmers, which are not easily addressed through conventional plant breeding alone. Protective measures and laws, especially patenting, must be moderated to eliminate coverage so broad that it stifles innovation. They must be made less restrictive to encourage research and free flow of materials and information. Small farmers have an important role in conserving and using crop biodiversity. Public sector breeding must remain vigorous, especially in areas where the private sector does not function. This will often require benevolent public/private partnerships as well as government support. Active and positive connections between the private and public breeding sectors and large-scale gene banks are required to avoid a possible conflict involving breeders’ rights, gene preservation and erosion. Plant breeding can be a powerful tool to bring “harmony” between agriculture and the environment, but partnerships and cooperation are needed to make this a reality.