Question

Briefly describe various steps involved in plant breeding.

Answer 1

Plant breeding is the process of improving the variety of plants. It is the genetic manipulation of plants to get an improved variety of plants. Various methods are identified for the plant breeding process. It mainly includes 4 steps. Steps involved in the plant breeding are: collection of variability, selection and evolution of parent, hybridization, testing and releasing it for commercial use.

Complete answer:
Planet breeding is the genetic process which includes the manipulation of plant genes. Traits of the plant changed in order to get better variety in plants. Gregor Mendel known as the “father of genetics” experiments with plant hybridization which leads research to improve crop production through plant breeding. The various steps involved in plant breeding are given as follows:-

Collection of genetic variability: In this step collection of wild varieties is done. Different types of varieties are taken so as to maintain genetic variability. The process is also known as germplasm collection. Germplasm can be conserved in two ways either by In-situ conservation or Ex-situ conservation.

Selection of parents and evaluation of germplasm: In this process the desired gene is selected from parents. Only pure lines are selected in this process.

Hybridization: Cross hybridization between selected parents is done. Hybrids are produced with desirable characters.

Superior hybrids are selected: Scientific evaluation is made to get desired hybrid progenies.

Testing, release and commercialization: Characters of selected progenies are evaluated by growing them in the research field. Characters which are examined are yield, resistance to diseases, performance etc. when the result of testing found positive the product is ready to release in the market.

Genetically modified plants are also produced by this process. Hybrids are formed by crossing the plant with better quality of plant so that progenies formed have improved quality of genes. High yielding ability can be checked by backcrossing the plant with a high yielding plant. Homologous recombination is also made between chromosomes to generate genetic diversity.

Note: Plant breeding has many important applications in agriculture. By using this technique traits that can be incorporated in crops includes: improved quality, high yield, increased tolerance to environmental conditions, disease resistant, increased tolerance to insect pests, increased tolerance to herbicides and also longer storage period for the harvested crops. Not only in plants genetic manipulation is also done in animals and genetically modified organisms are produced.