PLANT BREEDING Meaning and
Definition
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Plant breeding is a branch of agricultural science that involves the manipulation and modification of plants to produce cultivars with desired traits and characteristics. It is the deliberate selection and controlled mating of plants to improve the genetic composition of agricultural and horticultural crops. The primary objective of plant breeding is to develop new varieties that are resistant to diseases, pests, and environmental stresses, and that possess enhanced yield potential, quality attributes, and agronomic performance.
The process of plant breeding typically begins with the identification of desirable traits, such as improved yield, disease resistance, drought tolerance, or enhanced nutritional content. These traits are then transferred from one plant to another through controlled pollen transfer or by various other breeding methods like hybridization, selection, or genetic engineering.
Plant breeders utilize a combination of traditional breeding techniques and advanced scientific tools to accelerate the breeding process. Traditional methods include selection of superior individuals and crossbreeding between closely related plants to create hybrids with desired traits. Modern plant breeding techniques involve the application of molecular markers, gene editing technologies, and tissue culture methods for precise manipulation of plant genes.
Plant breeding has played a crucial role in the development of high-yielding crop varieties that have significantly increased global food production and contributed to food security. Moreover, it has contributed to sustainable agriculture by reducing the need for chemical inputs, optimizing resource utilization, and adapting crops to changing environmental conditions.
Etymology of PLANT BREEDING
The word "plant breeding" can be broken down into two parts: "plant" and "breeding".
The term "plant" comes from the Latin word "planta", which originally referred to the shoots or young branches of a tree. Over time, it expanded its meaning to include all living organisms with the ability to photosynthesize and reproduce.
The word "breeding" has its origins in Old English, derived from the verb "brēdan", meaning "to generate, produce, or raise". It has been used historically for the selective mating and reproduction of animals for desired traits.
Combined, "plant breeding" refers to the deliberate and controlled manipulation of the genetic traits and characteristics of plants to develop new varieties with improved qualities, such as higher yield, disease resistance, or nutritional value.
