OBJECTIVES OF PLANT BREEDING

1. Higher Yield:
2. Improved Quality:
3. Disease and Pest Resistance:
4. Maturity Duration:
5. Agronomic Characters:
6. Photo and Thermo Insensitivity:
7. Synchronous Maturity:
8. Non-Shattering Characteristics:
9. Determinate Growth Habit:
10. Dormancy:
11. Varieties for a New Season:
12. Moisture Stress and Salt Tolerance:
13. Elimination of Toxic Substance:
14. Wider Adaptability:
1. Higher Yield:
ØHigher yield of grain, fodder, fibre, sugar, oil etc, developing hybrid
varieties of Jowar, Maize, Bajara, etc.

2. Improved Quality:
Ø The quality characters may vary from one crop to another such as
grain size, shape, colour, milling and baking quality of wheat,
cooking quality in rice, malting in barley.
Ø Size, colour and flavour of fruits and keeping quality of vegetables,
protein and lysine content in cereals, protein content in legumes,
methionine and tryptophan contents in pulses etc.
Ø Forage breeders are interested, amongst other things, in improving feed
quality (high digestibility, high nutritional profile) for livestock.
Need to be removed/reduced
Ø Alkaloids in yam, cynogenic glucosides in cassava, trypsin
inhibitors in pulses, and steroidal alkaloids in potatoes.
3. Disease and Pest Resistance:
ØResistant varieties offer the cheapest and most convenient method
of disease and pest control. They not only helps to increase the
production but also stabilize the productivity.
e.g. Rust resistance in wheat.

4. Maturity Duration:
ØIt permits new crop rotation and extends crop area.
ØThus breeding for early maturing varieties suitable for different
dates of planting.
ØThis enables the farmer to take two-three crops in a year.
5. Agronomic Characters:

ØThese includes the characters such as dwarfness, profuse tillering,

branching erect, resistant and fertilizer responsiveness.

Tillering

Dwarf Vs Tall varieties in wheat

6. Photo and Thermo Insensitivity:

ØDevelopment of photo and thermo insensitive varieties in rice and

wheat will permit to extend their cultivation to new areas.

E.g Cultivation of Wheat in Kerala and West Bengal

Cultivation of Rice in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

7. Synchronous Maturity:

ØIt is desirable in crops like mung ( Vigna radiata) where several

pickings are necessary.
8. Non-Shattering Characteristics:
E.g. Mung, Black Gram, Horse Gram, etc.

Mung

Soybean
9. Determinate Growth Habit:

ØIt is desirable in mung, pigeon pea and cotton, etc.

Determinate Indeterminate

soybean
10. Dormancy:
A dormant seed is one that is unable to germinate in a specified period
of time under a combination of environmental factors that are
normally suitable for the germination of the non-dormant seed.

In some crops, seeds germinate even before harvesting if there are

rains at the time of maturity.
E.g Mung, barley, etc.
Fig. seed germination on mother plant
11. Varieties for a New Season:
ØBreeding crops suitable for seasons.
E.g Maize (Kharif) which is grown in Rabi and summer also.

12. Moisture Stress and Salt Tolerance:

ØDevelopment of varieties for a rainfed area and saline soils would
help to increase crop production in India.
13. Elimination of Toxic Substance:
ØIt will help to make them safe for consumption
E.g: Khesari (Lathyrus sativus) seeds have a neurotoxin (β- N-
oxalyl - α-β- diaminopropionic acid (BOAA)) causing paralysis.
Brassica oil has erucic acid and glucosinolate.

14. Wider Adaptability:

ØIt helps in stabilizing the crop production over region and seasons.
 MASS SELECTION

A large number of plants of similar phenotype are selected

and their seeds are mixed together to constitute a new
variety

The plants are selected on the basis of their appearance or

phenotype

Generally plants are not subjected to progeny test

MASS SELECTION
 APPLICATIONS OF MASS SELECTION

1. Improvement of Local Varieties

2. Purification of Existing Pureline Varieties

MERITS
• Widely Adapted
• Retain considerable genetic variability
• Less Demanding
• Time and Cost Effective
DEMERITS
• Less Uniform
• Improvement is Less
•Difficult to identify in seed certification programmes
 PURELINE SELECTION

Pureline

A large number of plants are selected from a self pollinated crop and
are harvested individually; individual plant progenies are evaluated and
best progeny is released as a pureline variety.

Uses of Pureline:

Ø As a variety

Ø As parents in a hybridization programme.

Ø In studies on mutation

Ø Other studies
PURELINE SELECTION
 APPLICATIONS OF PURELINE SELECTION

1. Improvement of Local Varieties

2. Pureline selection in introduced varieties
3. Improvement of old pureline varieties
4. Selection in segregating generations from crosses
5. Selection for a new characteristics in a pureline

MERITS
• Maximum improvement
• Extremely uniform
• Easily identified in seed certification programmes

DEMERITS
Don’t have Wide adaptation and stability
More time, space and cost
 PEDIGREE SELECTION

Description of the ancestors of an individual is known as

“Pedigree”

In pedigree method, individual plants are selected from F2 and the

subsequent generation and their progenies are tested.

During the entire operation, a record of the entire parent’s

offspring relationship is kept, is known as pedigree record.

Pedigree Record:

In Pedigree method, a detailed record of the relationship between the selected plants
and their progenies is maintained
 APPLICATIONS OF PEDIGREE SELECTION

1. Selection from segregating generations

2. To improve the specific weakness of popular variety
3. Selection of superior recombinant types
4. Transgresive segregants may be recovered

MERITS
• Provides maximum opportunity for the breeder
• Most suited for easily identified and simply inherited characters
• Transgresive segregants
• Takes less time than bulk method
• Have information about qualitative traits

DEMERITS
Miantenance of accurate pedigree records
Laborious and time consuming
Succcess depends upon skills
 Bulk Method

Bulk method: This method of breeding was first used by Nilsson-Ehle in

1908.

In the Bulk method, F2 and subsequent generation are harvested as bulk

to raise the next generation.

At the end of bulking period, individual plants are selected and evaluated
in a similar manner as in the pedigree method.
 APPLICATIONS OF BULK METHOD
1. Isolation of homozygous lines
2. Waiting for the opportunity for selection
3. Opportunity for natural selection
MERITS
• Simple, convenient and inexpensive
• Allows natural or artificial screening
• Natural selection may increase frequency of superior genotypes
• Transgresive segregants

DEMERITS
• Takes longer time
• Provides little opportunity for breeders to use skills
• Large number of progenies have to be select
• Sometimes superior genotypes may be lost to natural selection

Achievements
In India, only one variety “Narendra Rai” has been developed in Brown Mustard (B.
juncea) by Bulk method.
 Single Seed Descent (SSD)

Single Seed Descent Method:

Single seed descent method is the modification of bulk

method of breeding.
The idea of this method was first suggested by Goulden
(1941) and subsequently modified by Brim (1960).
MERITS
• Advances the generation with maximum speed
• Use green house and off-season nursery facilities
• Require little space, effort and labour
• The duration of the breeding program can be reduced.
• Every plant originates from a different F2 plant, resulting in
greater genetic diversity in each generation

DEMERITS
1. An inability of seed to germinate or a plant to set seed may
prohibit every F 2 plant from being represented in the
subsequent population.
2. It does not allow selection
qPopulation improvement methods :

üRecurrent Selection Scheme, Effectiveness of Progeny Selection Scheme,

 POPULATION IMPROVEMENT

The population improvement methods may be grouped into

two general classes.

1. Selection without progeny testing :

2. Selection with progeny testing :

1. Selection without progeny testing : Plants are selected on
the basis of their phenotype, and no progeny test is carried
out. Eg : Mass selection.

2. Selection with progeny testing : The Plants are initially

selected on the basis of their phenotype, but the final
selection of the plants that contribute to the next generation is
based on progeny testing.

The methods are eg :

a. Progeny selection or ear to row method
b. Line breeding
c. Recurrent selection
 PROGENY SELECTION:

Introduction:
A selection procedure in which superior plants are
selected from a heterogeneous population on the basis of the
performance of their progeny is referred to as a progeny
selection.

The progeny test was developed by Louis de Vilmorin

also known as Vilmorin principle.

Progeny selection: This method was developed by Hopkins in

1908 and used extensively in maize. In its simplest form the ear-
to-row method of selection is as follows.
Procedure
 Procedure
1. Number of plants (50-100) are selected on the basis of phenotypic
superiority. They are allowed to open pollinate and the seed is
harvested separately.

2. Progeny rows are grown (each10-50 plants) from the selected plants.
They are evaluated for desirable characters and superior progenies are
identified.

3. From the superior progenies several superior plants are selected based
on phenotypic characters. Plants are allowed to open pollinate. Plants are
harvested separately.

4. Small progeny rows are grown and the process of selection and raising
progeny rows is repeated till superior population is obtained. May be for 2
or 3 selection cycles. At the end superior plants from superior families are
selected and composited to produce a new variety.
Merits of progeny selection
1. Selection is based on progeny test and not phenotype as in mass
selection. 3-8% improvement is possible per each selection cycle.
2. Inbreeding is avoided by selection of large number of plants.
3. Method is relatively simple and easy.

Demerits of progeny selection

1. No. control on pollination and thus selection is based on maternal
parent only.
2. Each selection cycle takes 2 years in many cases.
Half sib family selection
Half sibs are those, which have one parent in common.
Here only superior progenies are planted and allowed to open
pollinate.

Full sib family selection

Full sibs are those which are produced by mating
between selected plants in pairs. Here the progenies will have a
common ancestry.
The crossed progenies are tested.
AxB
BxA
Inbred or selfed family selection: Families produced by selfing.

S1 family selection
Families produced by one generation of selfing. These are used for
evaluation and superior families are intermated (Simple recurrent
selection).

S2 family selection
Families obtained by two generations of selfing and used for
evaluation. Superior families are intermated.
Recurrent selection
Introduction
Definition:-
§A heterozygous tester with broad genetic base is used
for testing the GCA.
§Generally, open pollinated variety is used as a tester.
§This method is more effective with incomplete
dominance and less effective with over-dominance.
This scheme is used when character is governed by
additive gene action.
§A homozygous tester with narrow genetic base is
used for testing the SCA.
§Generally, inbred line is used as a tester.
§This method is more effective with over-dominance
and less effective with incomplete dominance.
§This scheme is used when character is governed by
non-additive gene action.
This method is equally effective with incomplete,
complete and overdominance.

This scheme is used when characters are governed by

both additive and non-additive gene action.
 Introduction

Synthetic Variety

In practical plant breeding, heterosis can be fully exploited in the

form of hybrids in cross pollinated species, and also in some self
pollinated crops.

In cross-pollinated species, heterosis can also be exploited

partially in the form of synthetic and composite varieties.
Definition of Synthetic Variety:

A Variety which is produced by crossing in all combination a

number of inbred lines that combine well with each other.

Once synthesized, a synthetic is maintained by open-

pollination in isolation is referred as synthetic variety.
Hayes and Garber suggested the commercial utilization of
synthetic varieties in Maize in 1919.

Synthetic varieties have been of great value in the breeding for

those cross – pollinated crop, where pollination control is difficult.
Eg. Forage crop species etc.
Features of Synthetic Variety
1. Heterogeneous
2. Synthetic variety can be developed by using clones, inbreds or OPV i.e. open
pollinated variety
3. Cross pollination is must
4. Maintained by open pollination
5. Unlike composite variety, exact reconstitution of synthetic variety is possible
6. More adaptive to varying growing conditions as compared to hybrids
7. Less uniform as compared to hybrids
8. Less attractive as compared to hybrids
9. Show some amount of heterosis as compared to OPV
10. Have better disease resistance
There are three different methods of evaluating, which is
produced by GCA.

1. Top cross
2. Polycross
3. Single cross
In top cross, the inbreds are crossed with a common tester and the
progeny are evaluated in replicated trials for general combining
ability of yield and yield contributing characters.

In Polycross, selected inbreds are allowed to intermated by open

pollination in isolation.

Single cross all possible single crosses are made among selected
inbreds. These crosses are evaluated for GCA of yield in replicated
trial using local variety as a check.

Thus, inbred lines with good GCA are identified and finally
selected for development of synthetic variety
Achievements of Synthetic Varieties:

Synthetic varieties have been developed in cross-

pollinated crops like maize, pearl millet, sunflower, Sugarbeet,
alfalfa, lucerne, etc. in U.S.A.

In India synthetic varieties have been evolved in pearl

millet at ICRISAT and in Sugarbeet at pantnagar.
Ex. Sugarbeet- pant synthetic – 3, Cauliflower- synthetic -3,
bajara- ICMS-7703.
 Composite varieties

Composite varieties

In cross pollinated crops, the varieties produced by open

pollination among a number of outstanding strains usually not
tested for combining with each other.
Features of Composite Variety

1. Heterogeneous
2. Relevant to cross pollinated species only
3. Can be developed from open pollinated variety or any other
heterozygous variety
4. Farmer can use his own saved seed for 3 to 4 years, after that
seed should be replaced
5. There can be two or more constituent genotypes
6. Evaluation for general combining ability (gca) as in synthetic
variety production, is not carried out
7. Exact reconstitution of composite variety is not possible
Differences between Synthetic and Composite Cultivars

Particulars Synthetic cultivars Composite cultivars

Base Material Inbreds or clones Open pollinated varieties or

any other heterozygous
source
Component Two to eight Two to many
genotypes
Evaluation of Always done Usually not done
GCA
Seed After 4-5 years After 3-4 years
Replacement
Exact Possible Not possible
Reconstitution
Achievements: Composite varieties

1. In India, the first composite varieties were released in 1967: the

six maize composites were, Ambar, Jawahar, Kisan, Vikram, Sona
and Vijay.
2. Some of the recently released maize composites are: Co 1 (full
season, resistant to downy mildew), Renuka (very early), Kanchan
(very early). These composites yield as much as 90 per cent of the
best hybrid varieties.
3. Three opaque 2 composties, viz., Shakti, Ratan and Protina, have
been released in maize. They have twice the amount of lysine and
tryptophan as compared to the normal maize hybrids and
composites.
4. A composite variety, Composite I, has been evolved in Brassica
campestris var. toria.
 Barnase –Barstar system

Transgenic Male Sterility

When the male sterility is induced by the techniques of genetic

engineering, it is called as transgenic male sterility.

It is heritable and basically comes under genetic male sterility.

In this system, the two kinds of genes are involved.

One gene causes male sterility (integrated with genome of A line) while
the other suppresses it (in R line).