UNIT – 1

Basic Concept of Plant Breeding

Prepared by:
Gaurab Neupane
Agriculture Instructor
Rapti Technical School, Dang
Plant Breeding
 Plant Breeding

 Plant breeding is the art and science of changing the traits of plants to produce desired
characteristics which are beneficial for humankind.

 Plant breeding is the applied branch of botany which improves the heredity of crops
(plants) and produces new crop varieties, which are better than the original type in
desired traits.
 History, past, present and future aspects of plant breeding in
Nepal

 https://afu.edu.np/sites/default/files/Plant_breeding_in_Nepal_Past_Present_and_Futur
e_BK_Joshi.pdf
 Nature of Plant Breeding

 Plant breeding is an art as well as a science.

 Different activities in plant breeding require art. The selection skills are required to
make a proper distinction between desirable and undesirable characters.

 Likewise, proper skills are required for carrying out emasculation, crossing,
hybridization and biotechnological skills.

 Thus, plant breeding is an art.

 Nature of Plant Breeding

 Plant breeding is based on genetic and hereditary principles and laws.

 Likewise, proper knowledge of mutation, polyploidy, biotechnology etc. is required for

performing different skills in plant breeding.

 Thus, plant breeding is science.

 Goals of Plant Breeding

1. Addressing world food, feed and nutritional needs

 To enhance the value of food crops by improving the yield and nutritional quality of their
products. IRRI developed golden rice which contains pro-vitamin A which is the
precursor of vitamin A.

 To make some plant products more digestible and safer to eat by reducing their toxic
components and improving their texture and other qualities.

 To improve feed quality for livestock. Eg. the high lignin content of the plant material
reduces its value for animal feed.
 Goals of Plant Breeding

2. Addressing food needs for a growing world population

 To increase yield dramatically for the growing population of the world. Eg. High
yielding varieties
 Goals of Plant Breeding

3. The need to adapt plants to environmental stresses

 To develop new cultivars for the new environment created by global climatic change.

 To develop new plant types that can resist various biotic (diseases, insect pests),
abiotic stresses and photoperiod-insensitive plants.
 Goals of Plant Breeding

4. The need to adapt crops to the specific production system

 To develop for rain-fed or irrigated production, mechanized or non-mechanized

production, upland production and for paddy production in rice.
 Goals of Plant Breeding

5. Satisfying industrial and other end-use requirements

 Different markets have different needs that plant breeders can address in their
undertakings. Eg. -Baking oil- high saturated fatty acid (palmitic, stearic acid) -
Cooking oil- high monounsaturated fatty acid (oleic acid)
 Objectives of Plant Breeding

Plant breeding aims to improve the characteristic of plants so that they become more
desirable agronomically and economically.

1. Broad objectives

 Quality of the product: Milling and baking – wheat; Stronger, longer and fine fibre –
cotton; Protein content – pulses (legume); Sugar content – sugarcane; Starch content –
potato;
Nicotine content – tobacco

 Higher yield and stability of yield of economic parts of plants.

 Objectives of Plant Breeding

1. Broad objectives

 The efficiency of production: eg. Determinate growth habit - tomato, pulses

 Conservation of natural resources: eg. Biological nitrogen fixation- non-legumes, Deep

root system - check erosion
 Objectives of Plant Breeding

2. Specific objectives
 High yields (hybrid varieties like maize)

 Plant height, no of branches, no of pods/branch, no of grains/ pods (legumes)

 No of tillers/plant, spike length, no of grain/spike (rice)

 Maturity duration (short), - Synchronous maturity (legumes)

 Low shattering/no shattering (legumes)

 Disease and insect resistant /tolerant

 Objectives of Plant Breeding

2. Specific objectives
 Hot, cold, drought, salt tolerance  Marketability

 Tolerance of toxic substances  Nutrition quality (starch, protein, oil,

sugar, vitamins and other functional
 Dormancy, winter hardiness
components)
 Photo-insensitivity Storage quality
 Suitability to machine harvest in
 Agronomic characters
mechanized areas etc.
 Adaptability
Activities in Plant Breeding
 Activities in Plant Breeding

1. Creation of variation
 Genetic variation is a prerequisite for any improvement in a crop.

 It is the first step and is created either naturally or artificially.

 Naturally occurring variability: Domestication, germplasm collection and introduction

 Artificially created variability: Hybridization, Mutations, Polyploidy Somaclonal

variation, Genetic engineering etc.
 Activities in Plant Breeding

2. Selection:

 Identification and isolation of plants having desirable characteristics and growing their
progeny.

 Selection based on phenotype

 Activities in Plant Breeding

3. Evaluation

 Test for yield and other desired traits and compared it with the best existing varieties
for commercial crop cultivation called checks.

 Test in several locations for some years, and if found superior to checks, then released
as new variety.
 Activities in Plant Breeding

4. Seed multiplication

Large seed production of certified seed of the released variety by seed agencies.

5. Distribution

Distribute to the farmers

 Roles of plant breeder in increasing food production

 Plant breeders play a critical role in increasing food production by developing

new plant varieties with higher yield potential and greater resistance to pests
and diseases.

 Here are some specific ways in which plant breeders help increase food
production:
 Roles of plant breeder in increasing food production

1. Developing high-yield varieties:

 Plant breeders use traditional breeding methods and advanced molecular

techniques to develop crop varieties with higher yield potential.

 By selecting plants with desirable traits, such as larger fruits or grains, and
crossing them with other plants with complementary traits, breeders can create
new varieties with improved yield potential.
 Roles of plant breeder in increasing food production

2. Improving crop resistance

 Plant breeders develop crop varieties with greater resistance to pests, diseases,
and environmental stresses such as drought and heat.

 This helps to reduce crop losses and increase yields.

 Roles of plant breeder in increasing food production

3. Developing new crop varieties:

 Plant breeders develop new crop varieties that are better suited to different growing
conditions and environments.

 This includes developing crops that can thrive in poor soil conditions or withstand
extreme weather events, such as floods or droughts
 Roles of plant breeder in increasing food production

4. Enhancing nutritional value:

 Plant breeders work to develop crops with improved nutritional value, such as
higher levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

 This helps to address malnutrition and improve overall health.

 Roles of plant breeder in increasing food production

5. Collaborating with farmers:

 Plant breeders work closely with farmers to understand their needs and develop
crop varieties that are better suited to local growing conditions.

 This helps to increase crop yields and improve food security for local
communities.
 Roles of plant breeder in increasing food production

6. Improving plant genetics

 Plant breeders use traditional breeding techniques, such as cross-pollination and

selection, as well as advanced molecular tools, such as gene editing and marker-
assisted selection, to improve the genetic makeup of plants.
 Roles of plant breeder in increasing food production

7. Conducting research

 Plant breeders conduct research to better understand the genetics and biology of
plants, which can help them develop more effective breeding techniques and
strategies.
 Roles of plant breeder in increasing food production

In summary, plant breeders play a critical role in increasing food production by

developing new plant varieties that are more productive, resistant to pests and
diseases, and better suited to changing environmental conditions.

This work is essential for ensuring that we can continue to produce enough food to
meet the needs of a growing global population.
 Relationship of plant breeding with other
disciplines
 Plant breeding is a multidisciplinary science that relies on knowledge and techniques from
several other fields of science.

 Here are some of the relationships between plant breeding and other sciences:

1. Genetics:

 Plant breeding is based on the principles of genetics, which involves the study of genes and
heredity.

 Genetic information is used to guide breeding decisions and to select plants with desirable
traits.
 Relationship of plant breeding with other
disciplines
2. Agronomy/Horticulture

 Plant breeders work closely with agronomists or horticulturists to develop plant varieties
that can grow under different environmental conditions and optimize crop production.

3. Molecular biology

 Plant breeders use molecular biology techniques to identify genes associated with desirable
traits and to develop tools for genome editing.
 Relationship of plant breeding with other
disciplines
4. Biotechnology

 Plant breeding has benefited greatly from biotechnology, particularly in the development of
genetically modified crops and the use of biotechnology tools for plant breeding.

5. Statistics

 Statistics are used to analyze data from plant breeding experiments and to determine the
probability of achieving desired outcomes.
 Relationship of plant breeding with other
disciplines
6. Plant pathology/Entomology

 Plant breeding requires the knowledge of pathology and entomology for the identification
and incorporation of disease-pest-resistant genes.

7. Plant Biochemistry

 Plant breeding is related to biochemistry for doing different quality tests to determine the
quality characteristics of crop variety - Involves chemical analysis (starch, protein, fats,
vitamins, amino acids etc. content).
 Relationship of plant breeding with other
disciplines
8. Botany/Taxonomy

 Plant breeding requires the knowledge of botany and taxonomy to Study the morphology
and floral characteristics of different crop plants.

9. Plant Physiology

 Plant breeding to related to plant physiology to Know about environmental stresses like
temperature, light, soil moisture, soil nutrients etc. so that Variety improvement can be done
according to these stresses
 Relationship of plant breeding with other
disciplines

10. Ecology

 Plant breeding takes into account the ecological context of crop production, including
factors such as soil quality, climate, and the presence of pests and diseases.

 Plant breeders work with ecologists to develop plant varieties that are adapted to specific
environmental conditions and that can help to maintain ecosystem health.
 Achievements of Plant Breeding

1. Development of hybrid varieties:

 Several hybrid varieties of different crops like rice, maize, tomato, etc. have been
developed through plant breeding.

 In the case of Nepal, hybrid varieties of maize have been developed. eg: Gaurav, Attempts
have been made for other crops too.

 Hybrid varieties give 25 to 100% more yield than other varieties

 Achievements of Plant Breeding
2. Development of short-stature (dwarf) varieties:

 Eg. Wheat, rice, sorghum

 Dwarf cultivars accumulate more photosynthates into economic parts and give a high yield.

3. Efficiency of production

 Plant breeding attempts to develop fertilizers-responsive and photo-insensitive varieties

leading to greater efficiency in production.
 Achievements of Plant Breeding

2. Development of short-stature (dwarf) varieties:

 Eg. Wheat, rice, sorghum

 Dwarf cultivars accumulate more photosynthates into economic parts and give a high yield.

3. Efficiency of production

 Plant breeding attempts to develop fertilizers-responsive and photo-insensitive varieties

leading to greater efficiency in production.
 Achievements of Plant Breeding
4. Uniform ear placement: Eg. Maize (machine harvest is possible)

5. Erect leaf characters: Eg. Wheat, rice (increased sunlight interception by lower leaves)

6. Improved nutritional quality of grains: Eg. Rice, wheat, maize, legumes

7. Insect pest resistance: Eg. Rice - Hardinath 1- resistant to Gallmidge,

Maize - Rampur composite, Arun 2, Gaurav, Upahar - resistant to maize borer

 Achievements of Plant Breeding
8. Disease resistance

 Rice - Laxmi and Khumal 11- resistant to Maize - Ganesh 2, Manakamana 1 & 3, and
blast and bacterial blight Deuti - tolerant to grey leaf spot

 Rice - Sabitri, Radha 12, Radha 4, Chaite 2, Maize - Rampur 2 – resistant to Downy
Hardinath 1 and Janaki - bacterial leaf blight mildew

 Wheat – Pasang Lambu, Bhrikuti and Soybean – Puja – resistant to Yellow mosaic
Gautam - Yellow rust virus

 NL 1050, NL 1054, NL 1055, NL 1064, NL Chickpea – Tara – tolerant to wilt

067 and NL 1073 - resistant to UG99
 Achievements of Plant Breeding
9. Determinate growth habit: Eg. Legumes, tomatoes (only one harvest is possible which
reduces the cost of production)

10. Early maturity: Eg. Rice - CH 45, Loktantra and Cultivars of cole crops

11. Submergence tolerance: Eg. Sworna, IR 64, Sawa Mansuli genotypes of rice

12. Drought tolerance: Radha 32, B 6144, and IR 44535-5 genotypes of rice

13. Gynoecious line: Eg. Cucumber

14. Non Lodging: Eg. Rice – Mithila, Pokhareli, Jethobodho, Khumal 8

15. Non-shattering: Eg. Rice – Mithila etc…

 Undesirable Consequences of Plant Breeding

 Plant breeding is the process of developing new plant varieties with desirable traits such as
increased yield, improved disease resistance, and better nutritional quality.

 While plant breeding has contributed significantly to increased crop productivity and food
security, it can also have undesirable consequences. Some of these consequences include:

 1. Genetic erosion

 The disappearance of landraces and local varieties due to the introduction of high-yielding
varieties leads to genetic erosion.
 Undesirable Consequences of Plant Breeding

2. Narrow genetic base/Loss of genetic variability

 Genetic base refers to the genetic variability present among the cultivated varieties of a
crop species.

 Plant breeding often involves selecting and breeding plants with specific traits, which can
lead to a loss of genetic diversity within a crop.

 This loss of genetic diversity can make crops more vulnerable to pests and diseases and can
limit their ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions.
 Undesirable Consequences of Plant Breeding

3. Yield plateau/Yield stagnation

 After the variability of the crop is exhausted, no further variability of yield in the crop can
be obtained through breeding.

 This leads to yield stagnancy. The yield cannot be further increased. This is known as a
yield plateau.

 A yield plateau refers to a point at which the increase in crop yield per unit of input cannot
be further increased despite the increase in the amount of input used.
 Undesirable Consequences of Plant Breeding

4. Increased susceptibility to minor insects and diseases:

 Minor diseases and pests become major due to intensive resistance breeding.

5. Undesirable combinations:

 Sometimes, plant breeding leads to undesirable combinations.

 Examples of manmade crops having an undesirable combination of characters are

Raphanobrassica and Pomato.
 Undesirable Consequences of Plant Breeding

6. Reduced nutritional quality

 Some plant breeding programs prioritize traits like increased yield or disease resistance
over nutritional quality.

 This can result in crops that are less nutritious than their wild or traditional forms.
 Undesirable Consequences of Plant Breeding

7. Ethical concerns

 Some plant breeding programs involve the use of genetic modification techniques, which
can raise ethical concerns about the potential long-term effects of manipulating plant DNA.

 Additionally, there can be concerns about the ownership and control of plant genetic
resources, particularly when these resources are developed through traditional breeding
methods in developing countries.
 Undesirable Consequences of Plant Breeding

8. Environmental impact

 Plant breeding can also have negative environmental impacts, such as increased soil
erosion, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.

 This can occur if farmers rely heavily on chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and other inputs
to maximize crop yields.
 Constraints of Plant Breeding

 Lack of fund  Untimely supply of inputs

 Lack of skilled personnel  Non-systematic way of collection and

 Lack of technical materials conservation of local germplasms

 Limited research activities on specific crops

 Fewer farmers’ activities towards plant
breeding
 Inadequate facilities

 Lack of clear cut policy of government

 Co-ordination gap among teaching,

research and extension
 Scope/Future Prospects of Plant Breeding
 Development of improved high yielding varieties of crops

 Genetic manipulation to the frequency of desirable alleles in cross pollinated crops and
introducing male sterile in self-pollinated crops.

 Development of hybrid varieties like maize.

 Quality Improvement in oil seed and vegetables.

 Developing disease and insect pest-tolerant/resistant varieties of crops.

 Intensive (In-depth) breeding of pulses and oil seed crops like cereals.

 Development of varieties which are desirable for mechanical threshing and cultivation.
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