ASCOT Library Zabali Campus

Part one : introductory topics --
1. Introduction --
2. Historical resume --
3. Crop germplasm --
4. Reproductive system --
5. Male sterility --
6. Self-incompatibility --
7. Techniques of artificial hybridization --
8. Genetic basis of plant breeding --
9. Selection --
10. Interspecific and intergeneric hybridization --
Part two : methods of crop breeding --
11. Pure-line selection --
12. Pedigree method --
13. Bulk-population method --
14. Backross method --
15. Population method --
16. Recurrent selection --
17. Germplasm composites and synthetic varieties --
18. Asexually propagated crops --
19. Apomictic grasses --
20. Corn hybrids --
21. Hybrid varieties --
22. Mutation breeding --
23. Polyploid breeding --
24. Disease resistance breeding --
25. Insect resistance breeding --
26. Abiotic stresses --
27. Breeding for specific traits --
28. Plant tissue culture --
29. genetic engineering --
Part three : seed production --
30. Release and maintenance of crop variety --
31. Plant variety protection --
32. Hybrid seed production.

"Man's intervention in the evolution of plants, to adapt them more closely to his needs, constitutes the practice of plant breeding. Historically regarded as an art and later both as an art and a science, plant breeding is now considered an integrating technology (Riley, 1978). Be what it may, it certainly is an interdisciplinary science which involves co-operation between various scientists in the related disciplines, between plant breeding research centres, genetic resources centre(s) and other agencies involved in the testing and evaluation of new varieties. The success of such an approach is amply evident from the achievements of co-operative crop improvement research programmes at both the national and global level. The large number of improved varieties, promising breeding material evolved under the auspices of co-operative programmes has helped several nations to raise their agricultural production and ensure better food security. This has also served as a vehicle for transformation of agriculture and adoption of new emerging farming technologies by farmers. Organized seed production has further helped to realize the dividends from this endeavour. This is what plant breeding and seed production are all about, and known about.
With several new developments, such as hybrids of vegetable crops, mass micropropagation through tissue culture of some horticultural and plantation crops, advancements in the field of genetic engineering, one may hope that plant breeding will touch new heights. Also, the enactment of plant variety protection legislation in several countries has provided the impetus necessary to private investment on a significant scale in plant breeding research and organized seed production.
Plant-breeding literature has become too voluminous over the period of years to readily assimilate. Yet one needs to keep himself abreast with the latest developments. This book is an earnest attempt to explain the fundamental principles and to provide an up-to-date exposure to the subject. Besides discussion on conventional breeding procedures, considerable attention is given to current breeding approaches and possible solutions suggested. The chapters on tissue culture and genetic engineering cover all the essential aspects related to plant breeding. Students are thereby updated on recent developments. Chapters pertaining to variety release, variety maintenance, plant variety protection and hybrid seed production have been included from the viewpoint of the seed industry. Also, a plant breeder is often required to shoulder the responsibility of maintaining nucleus and breeder seed stocks, and to impart training in seed production, especially hybrid seed production. I earnestly hope that the aggregate information compiled in this book will be of immense practical value to students and all others engaged in plant breeding research and seed production.
Thanks are due to my daughter Radhika, herself a student of Botany, who assisted me in various ways during the preparation of the manuscript. Thanks are also due to Dr. G.K. Garg for vetting chapters on Tissue Culture and Genetic Engineering, Dr. Arvind Shukla for vetting the chapter on Crop Germplasm, Dr. Anil Kumar for reading proofs and Mr. V.M. Lal for preparing line drawings. I am also thankful to G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar for necessary encouragement to complete this work. I also wish to record my sincere gratitude to (Ms) Margaret Majithia for thoroughly editing the manuscript and making valuable suggestions for its further improvement." - RATTAN LAL AGRAWA
LA-731 Indira Nagar Lucknow-226016, INDIA May, 1998