Abstract

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