Genomics Assisted Breeding: Potential, Progress and Limitations
Kuldeep Singh,
Senior Molecular Geneticist (Professor),
Punjab Agricultural University
The productivity of domestic crop
plants has evolved through the collective efforts of plant scientists since the
dawn of agriculture and represents mankind’s greatest achievements. From a historical perspective, improved crop
yields have been influenced perhaps more by genetic improvement than by any
other single factor. Despite the breeding progress already achieved, additional
gains in agricultural productivity are demanded at an ever-faster pace by
population growth and by changes in agricultural practices, biotic and abiotic
environments and consumer preferences. Several studies have shown that global
crop production needs to double by 2050 to meet the projected demands from
rising population. At these rates global production in three key crops maize,
rice, and wheat, would increase by 67%, 42% and 38% respectively, which is far
below what is needed to meet projected demands in 2050. Of the several routes
that can result into greater crop production and increased world food supply,
increasing yield per hectare per crop through increased genetic yield potential
will be the most important route. Crop breeders have envisioned and are
following several approaches for sustainable improvement of crop productivity. Of
these, empirical selection, analytical breeding, ideotype breeding, and alien
introgression are some of the approaches which crop breeders are following for
further improving the crop productivity.
Next to variation, breeders’ most precious resources are time and
growing capacity for plant material. Together, these impose tight restraints on
the breeding process. Developing new traits, improving existing ones, and
preventing loss of gain already made, is therefore a challenge that can be met
by rational design of crossing
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