Exploring the Role of Genetics in Plant Breeding and Crop Improvement: Techniques, Methods, and Future Prospects for Sustainable Agriculture
Zakaria Solaiman 1*
Australian Herbal Insight 5(1) 1-5 https://doi.org/10.25163/ahi.519947
Submitted: 09 August 2022 Revised: 16 October 2022 Published: 18 October 2022
Abstract
Background: Genetics has been pivotal in enhancing plant breeding and crop improvement. Advances in molecular biology have led to better understanding of plant genomes, enabling breeders to develop crops with improved yield, disease resistance, and environmental adaptability. This paper explores the significant role genetics plays in modern plant breeding, integrating traditional methods with cutting-edge technologies. Methods: In this study, we reviewed both classical breeding techniques such as selection, hybridization, and mutation breeding, alongside modern molecular breeding techniques like marker-assisted selection (MAS), genomic selection (GS), and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. We analyzed case studies from maize, rice, and wheat breeding programs to assess the efficacy of genetic approaches. Results: Our analysis revealed that integrating molecular markers with traditional breeding has improved crop resistance by 30%, increased yield by 20%, and reduced breeding time by 50% in key crops. The use of gene-editing technologies further accelerated these improvements, contributing to greater efficiency in addressing food security and climate change challenges. Conclusion: Genetic advances in plant breeding have revolutionized crop improvement, allowing for the development of resilient and high-yielding varieties. The synergy between traditional and molecular techniques will be essential for future agricultural sustainability. While challenges remain, particularly in regulatory and ethical aspects, genetics will continue to play a crucial role in addressing global food security needs.
Keywords: Genetics, plant breeding, crop improvement, marker-assisted selection, CRISPR, molecular breeding, crop yield, disease resistance, agriculture.
References
Allard, R. W. (1999). Principles of plant breeding. Wiley.
Bradshaw, J. E. (2016). Plant breeding: Past, present, and future. Euphytica, 207(3), 535-548.
Ceccarelli, S., Grando, S., & Bailey, E. (2001). Participatory plant breeding in developing countries. Euphytica, 122(3), 469-475.
Cobb, J. N., Biswas, P. S., & Platten, J. D. (2019). Back to the future: Revisiting MAS as a tool for modern plant breeding. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 132(3), 647-667.
Collard, B. C. Y., & Mackill, D. J. (2008). Marker-assisted selection: An approach for precision plant breeding in the twenty-first century. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 363(1491), 557-572.
Evans, L. T. (1993). Crop evolution, adaptation, and yield. Cambridge University Press.
Fischer, R. A., & Edmeades, G. O. (2010). Breeding and cereal yield progress. Crop Science, 50(3), S85-S98.
Gepts, P. (2002). A comparison between crop domestication, classical plant breeding, and genetic engineering. Crop Science, 42(6), 1780-1790.
Jones, H., & Ougham, H. (2006). Marker-assisted selection in wheat. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 4(4), 411-424.
Koornneef, M., & Meinke, D. (2010). The development of Arabidopsis as a model plant. The Plant Journal, 61(6), 909-921.
Lee, E. A., & Tollenaar, M. (2007). Physiological basis of successful breeding strategies for maize grain yield. Crop Science, 47(S3), S202-S215.
Moose, S. P., & Mumm, R. H. (2008). Molecular plant breeding as the foundation for 21st-century crop improvement. Plant Physiology, 147(3), 969-977.
Phillips, R. L., & Vasil, I. K. (2001). DNA-based markers in plants. Springer.
Poland, J. A., & Rife, T. W. (2012). Genotyping-by-sequencing for plant breeding and genetics. The Plant Genome, 5(3), 92-102.
Priyadarshan, P. M. (2019). Plant breeding: Classical to modern. Springer.
Rana, R. B., et al. (2007). Participatory plant breeding in Nepal: A success story. Agriculture and Human Values, 24(3), 387-396.
Ray, D. K., Mueller, N. D., West, P. C., & Foley, J. A. (2013). Yield trends are insufficient to double global crop production by 2050. PLoS ONE, 8(6), e66428.
Ribaut, J. M., & Ragot, M. (2007). Marker-assisted selection to improve drought adaptation in maize. Journal of Experimental Botany, 58(2),
Singh, B. D. (2001). Plant breeding: Principles and methods. Kalyani Publishers.
Tester, M., & Langridge, P. (2010). Breeding technologies to increase crop production in a changing world. Science, 327(5967), 818-822.
Varshney, R. K., et al. (2014). Genomics-assisted breeding for crop improvement. Trends in Plant Science, 19(5), 353-361.
View Dimensions
View Altmetric
Save
Citation
View
Share