Question

What is plant breeding? List the two Steps the classical plant breeding involves.

Answer 1

Plant breeding is the process of improving the variety of plants. It is the genetic manipulation of the plant to get an improved variety of plants. Various methods are identified for the plant breeding process.

Complete answer:
Plant breeding is a genetic process which includes the manipulation of plant genes. The trait of the plant is changed in order to get a better variety of plants. Gregor Mendel, also known as the father of genetics experiment with plant hybridization has led to improve crop production and quality through various plant breeding techniques. Various steps involved in the plant breeding are:
1. Collection of genetic variability: In this step, wild varieties of plants are collected. It is done to maintain genetic variability. It is also known as germplasm collection.
2. Selection of parents and evaluation of germplasm: In this process, the desired genes are selected from parents. Only pure lines are selected in this process.
3. Hybridization: In this step, cross-hybridization between selected parents is done. Hybrids are produced with desirable characters.
4. Superior hybrids are selected: A scientific evaluation is made in this step to get desired hybrid progenies.
5. Testing, release and commercialization: In this process, characters of selected progenies are evaluated by growing them in the research field. Characters examined are yield, resistance to disease, performance etc. When the result of testing is found positive, the product is ready to release in the market. Hybrids are formed by crossing the plants with a better quality of plant so that progenies formed have improved quality of genes.

Note: Plant breeding has many important applications in agriculture. By using this technique, a trait can be incorporated into crops. Traits include: improved quality, high yield, increased tolerance to environmental conditions, disease-resistant, increased tolerance to insect pests, etc. Not only for plants, but genetic manipulation is also done in animals and genetically modified organisms are produced.