plant breeding
Cultivar development science
Plant breeding is the deliberate manipulation of plant reproduction to develop new varieties with desirable traits—higher yield, disease resistance, better flavor, drought tolerance.
Breeders select parent plants and cross-pollinate them, then evaluate offspring over multiple generations.
The practice ranges from traditional selective breeding to modern techniques involving genetic modification.
Plant breeding has doubled wheat yields since the 1960s.
Collection preserving plant genetics
- genetic diversityAllelic variation within populations
- landraceRegionally adapted traditional stock
- accessionAttainment of high office
- gene poolSpecies' total genetic diversity
conservation · collection · characterization · evaluation · in situ · cultivar · variety
Hereditary information unit
- alleleGene variant at one locus
- genotypeOrganism's complete allele set
- phenotypeObservable characteristics of organism
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
dominance · recessive · mutation · DNA · chromosome · heritability · locus · monohybrid
First filial generation offspring
- backcrossHybrid-to-parent mating
- outcrossingBreeding unrelated same-species individuals
- inbreedingReproduction between close relatives
- heterosisOffspring surpassing both parents
hybrid vigor · interspecific · progeny · self-incompatibility
Gene-editing molecular machinery
- gene editingTargeted DNA alteration
- genetic engineeringDeliberate DNA modification
- tissue cultureGrowing cells in controlled media
- mutagenesisInducing stable genetic changes
genome sequencing · bioinformatics · biofortification · transformation · regeneration
Joining tissues to grow together
- scionHeir of prominence
- rootstockBase for grafted plants
- cloningMaking identical copies
- cuttingDividing via sharp edge
layering · budding · diploid · tetraploid · chromosome doubling · colchicine
Human-controlled trait propagation
- progeny testingAssessing heredity through offspring
- variabilityTendency to change
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
seed bank
Collection preserving plant genetics
- genetic diversityAllelic variation within populations
- landraceRegionally adapted traditional stock
- accessionAttainment of high office
gene pool · conservation · collection · characterization · evaluation · in situ · cultivar · variety
gene
Hereditary information unit
- alleleGene variant at one locus
- genotypeOrganism's complete allele set
- phenotypeObservable characteristics of organism
inheritance · dominance · recessive · mutation · DNA · chromosome · heritability · locus · monohybrid · geneticist
F1 hybrid
First filial generation offspring
- backcrossHybrid-to-parent mating
- outcrossingBreeding unrelated same-species individuals
- inbreedingReproduction between close relatives
heterosis · hybrid vigor · interspecific · progeny · self-incompatibility
CRISPR
Gene-editing molecular machinery
- gene editingTargeted DNA alteration
- genetic engineeringDeliberate DNA modification
- tissue cultureGrowing cells in controlled media
mutagenesis · genome sequencing · bioinformatics · biofortification · transformation · regeneration
grafting
Joining tissues to grow together
cutting · layering · budding · diploid · tetraploid · chromosome doubling · colchicine
field trials
Testing in actual conditions
- disease screeningExamining asymptomatic populations for conditions
artificial selection
Human-controlled trait propagation
- progeny testingAssessing heredity through offspring
- variabilityTendency to change
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
resistance · tolerance · uniformity · selection pressure · culling
plant breedingweed control
Eliminating unwanted vegetation
deforestation · crop destruction · habitat destruction · slash-and-burn
plant, breed, plants, planting, planted, breeding, bred, implant, planter