Fundamentals of Plant Breeding

Historical development, concept, nature and role of plant breeding. Major achievements and future prospects. Genetics in relation to plant breeding. Modes of reproduction. Male sterility - genetic consequences and cultivar options. Domestication, acclimatization and introduction. Centres of origin/diversity. Components of genetic variation, heritability and genetic advance. Genetic basis and breeding methods in self-pollinated crops - mass and pure line selection, hybridization techniques and handling of segregating population. Multiline concept. Concepts of population genetics and Hardy-Weinberg Law. Genetic basis and methods of breeding cross - pollinated crops. Modes of selection. Population improvement schemes - ear to row method, modified ear to row, recurrent selection schemes. Heterosis and inbreeding depression. Development of inbred lines and hybrids, composite and synthetic varieties. Breeding methods in asexually propagated crops - clonal selection. Wide hybridization and pre-breeding. Polyploidy in relation to plant breeding. Mutation breeding - methods and uses. Breeding for important biotic and abiotic stresses. Introduction to biotechnological tools - DNA markers and marker assisted selection. Participatory plant breeding. Plant Breeders’ and Farmers’ Rights.