Discussion is about the detailed history of plant breeding, various objectives of plant breeding and activities of plant breeding. All topics are discussed to the point.

1. Presented By –
Shovan Das
B.Sc. (Agriculture)
Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya
PLANT BREEDING - OBJECTIVES &
ACTIVITIES

2. CONTENTS
1. Plant Breeding – Definition
2. Fields of Plant Breeding
3. History of Plant Breeding
4. Objectives of Plant Breeding
5. Activities of Plant Breeding

3. P L A N T B R E E D I N G - D E F I N I T I O N
Plant breeding is the art, science and technology of changing and improving
the genetic architecture of plant to attain particular objectives.
• According to John Milton Poehlman (1959) – Plant
Breeding is the art and science of changing and
improving the heredity of plant.
• According to D. C. Smith (1966) – Plant Breeding is
the art and science of improving the genetic patterns
of plants in relation to their economic uses.
• According to Riley (1978) – Plant Breeding is a
technology of developing superior crop plants for
various purposes.

4. F I E L D S O F P L A N T B R E E D I N G
The field of plant breeding can be divided into three different areas –
1. Plant genetic resources / Germplasm – It refers the total variability
found in plant species. Keep in mind that having variation in
population is mandatory to perform breeding significantly. If all the
individuals are same there is no chance to get any improved
characters.
2. Breeding Techniques – There are several general and special
breeding techniques for self pollinated, cross pollinated and asexually
propagated species.
3. Seed Production Techniques – After developing a variety through
breeding there is an important job is good quality and improved seed
production in large scale. This seed (certified) will be ultimately
distributed for commercial cultivation.
GETTING CONFUSED? DON’T WORRY, RELAX! WILL DISCUS IT LATER.

5. H I S T O R Y O F P L A N T B R E E D I N G
Before entering in deep, let know something about it – the history of plant
breeding. At the beginning we discussed that plant breeding is ART,
SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY. Why? Let discuss it in aspect of history.
We can divide the timeline of development of plant breeding from ancient
days to now in three parts –
1. Pre – Mendelian Period (Before 1900)
2. Post – Mendelian Period (1900 – 1980)
3. Modern Period (After 1980)
Here an important thing is that there is nothing like Mendelian Period,
cause Mendel’s scientific laws was simply ignored in his time. After the
rediscovery of his results the Post – Mendelian Period started. Which
means his results came in effect after his death. So unfortunate, isn’t it?
* Gregor Johann Mendel (1822 – 1884) is the ‘Father of Genetics’ and ‘Father of Plant Breeding’.

6. P r e – M e n d e l i a n P e r i o d ( B e f o r e 1 9 0 0 )
In this period plant breeding was purely an art. People used to collect food
plants (domestication) with particular desirable characteristics (phenotypic)
and they also started selecting superior plants according to their priority
without knowing the science. All these domestication and selection was
done naked eye observation and experience. That’s why is was only art!
Time Incident
9000 BC First evidence of plant domestication in hills above Tigris River
5000 BC Agricultural communities exist in Mesopotamia
4000 BC Egyptians used yeast in wine and bread making
3000 BC Domestication complete of all important food crops in the old world
1000 BC Domestication complete of all important food crops in the new world
700 BC Assyrians and Babylonians pollinated date palms artificially
1665 Robert Hooke first described the cell

7. Time Incident
1676 Millington stated anthers function as male organ
1694 Rudolf Jakob Camerarius discovered sex in plants, developed first plant
hybrid by a cross between hop plant and hemp
1717 Fairchild produced first artificial hybrid (Fairchild’s Mule) by crossing red
flowered and pink flowered species of sweet williams
1729 Swammerdam and Bonnet proposed ‘Preformation theory’ that individuals
developed from enlargement of fully formed tiny organism in germ cell
1753 Linnaeus published ‘Species Plantarum’. Binomial nomenclature of plant
taxonomy begins with his general list of plant species. He stated that new
plant species developed by natural hybridization
1759 C. F. Wolff proposed ‘Epigenesis Theory’ states differentiation of organs
after fertilization and zygote formation
1761 Koelreuter made the first systematic studies of plant hybrids. Demonstrated
that hybrid offspring receive traits from both parents and are intermediate
in most traits
1779 Andrews Knight emphasized the practical aspects of hybrids

8. Time Incident
1801 Lamarck gave ‘Inheritance of acquired characters theory’
1819 Le Conteur and Shirreff used pure line selection to develop new oat and
wheat cultivar
1823 Amici described the entry of pollen tube into the ovary
1831 Robert Brown discovered cell nucleus
1838 M. J. Schleiden and Theodore Schwann stated cell theory
1840 John Le Couteur gave the concept of progeny test and individual plant
selection in cereals
1849 Carl Gaertner published an account of his 10000 breeding experiments
1856 Vilmorin developed progeny testing and improved sugarbeets
1859 Charles Darwin published ‘Origin of Species’ and gave ‘Pangene theory’;
Noted inbreeding, sterility and differences in reciprocal crosses
1866 Mendel published ‘Experiments in plant hybridization’; discovered factors,
segregation of F2, recombination of genes, dominance, laws of inheritance

9. Time Incident
1873 Patrick Shireff stated that variation is heritable in nature and variation
arouse through ‘natural sports’ (mutation) and ‘natural hybridization’
1883 August Friedrich Leopold Weismann proposed ‘Germplasm theory’ by
experiment of surgically removed tail of breeding mouse
1884 Strasburger demonstrated fertilization and formation of zygote
1890 Wilhelm Rimpau first made fertile inheritance cross between wheat and rye
which later gave birth of triticale
1899 Novaschin and Guignard discovered double fertilization of egg and
endosperm
Hopkins described ear to row selection method

10. P o s t – M e n d e l i a n P e r i o d ( 1 9 0 0 - 1 9 8 0 )
After the rediscovery of Mendel’s work Post-Mendelian Period started in
completely scientific way in addition to art. Concept of traits (later gene)
developed and plant breeding become more clear and logical.
Time Incident
1900 de Vries (Holland), Correns (Germany) and Tschermak (Austria)
independently rediscovered Mendel’s Law of Heredity
Nilsson et al. developed detailed method of individual plant selection
1902 de Vries proposed ‘Mutation theory of evolution’ on his experiments on
Oenothera lamarckiana
R. H. Biffen found that stripe rust resistance was due to a single gene
1903 Wilhelm Johannsen coined the term – Gene, Genotype, Phenotype , Pureline
1904 Hannig gave the idea of embryo culture
1906 Bateson introduced the term – Genetics, Allelomorph (with Saunders)
Yule proposed the ‘Multiple factor hypothesis’

11. Time Incident
1908 Nilsson – Ehle gave the explanation of MFH for grain colour of wheat.
Hardy and Weinberg proposed algebraic equation ‘Hardy-Weinberg Law’.
C. B. Devenport first proposed dominance hypothesis (heterosis).
G. H. Shull and E. M. East proposed over dominance hypothesis (on maize).
1910 Morgan discovered white eye colour of Drosophila is a sex-linked trait
1914 G. H. Shull introduced the term – Heterosis
Blakeslee discovered trisomics in Datura
1917 Jones developed first commercial hybrid maize
1919 H. K. Hays and R. J. Garber gave idea about recurrent selection and
suggested use of synthetic varieties for commercial cultivation of maize
1926 East and Mangelsdorf first discovered gametophytic system of self
incompatibility in Nicotiana sanderae.
Pioneer Hi-Breed Corn Company established as first seed company.
N. I. Vavilov identified 8 main and 3 sub centres of diversity.
1927 Muller reported artificial mutation in animal by x-rays
Karpencheko developed first intergeneric hybrid between radish and
cabbage in Russia

12. Time Incident
1928 Stadler described the mutagenic effects of x-rays in barley
1931 Stern, Creighton and McClintock gave cytological proof of crossing – over
1933 Rhoades discovered cytoplasmic male sterility in maize
1934 Dustin discovered colchicine
1935 Vavilov published scientific basis of plant breeding
Woo Jang-choon published brassica triangle
1939 C. H. Goulden first suggested the use of single seed descent method
1940 M. T. Jenkins described the procedure of recurrent selection
1941 Beadle and Tatum proposed ‘One gene one enzyme’
1944 Avery, MacLeod and McCarty stated DNA as genetic / hereditary material
1945 Hull introduced the term – recurrent selection and overdominance
1946 Comstock et al. suggested reciprocal (half-sib) recurrent selection
1950 McClintock described Ac-Ds system of transposable elements in maize
Hughes and Babcock first discovered sporophytic system of self
incompatibility in Crepis foetida

13. Time Incident
1952 Jensen first suggested the use of multilines in oats
1953 N. E. Borlaug first developed multilines in wheat
James Watson and Francis Crick discovered double helix structure of DNA
1955 Benzer based on his work on rII locus of T4 bacteriophage gave the concept
of cistron, recon and muton
1956 Flor gave gene for gene hypothesis for host-parasite resistance
1963 Vanderplank developed the concept of vertical and horizontal resistance
1964 N. E. Borlaug developed high yielding dwarf variety of wheat which was
responsible of green revolution
1968 Donald developed the concept of crop ideotype in wheat
1970 Borlaug received Noble peace prize for green revolution
C. T. Patel developed world's first cotton hybrid in India
Berg, Cohen and Boyer introduced recombinant DNA technology
1974 Yuan Long Ping developed world’s first rice hybrid (CMS based) in China
for commercial cultivation

14. M o d e r n P e r i o d ( A f t e r 1 9 8 0 )
Modern period of Plant Breeding started with the use of Agricultural
Biotechnology. It’s the addition of technology with the classical plant breeding.
Breeding become more sophisticated and less time consuming.
Time Incident
1983 Fraley et al. developed first transgenic plant of tobacco in USA
1987 Development of first transgenic plant of cotton by Monsanto company
(USA)
1991 ICRISAT developed world’s first pigeon pea hybrid – ICPH 8 (GMS based)
in India for commercial cultivation
1994 First commercially grown GE crop Flavr Savr tomato was introduced by
Calgene company (California)
1995 Bt corn developed.
1996 Glyphosate resistance soybean plant introduced
1997 Terminator gene (allows germination of seed for one generation only) was
identified by Monsanto, USA

15. Time Incident
1998 Traitor gene (responds to specific brands of fertilizer and insecticide) was
introduced by Monsanto, USA
2001 Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmer’s Right Act (PPVFRA)
2002 Mahyco and Monsanto released three Bt Hybrids – MECH 12, MECH 16,
MECH 184
2004 Glyphosate resistance wheat plant introduced
2005 Govt. of India approved cultivation of some Bt cotton hybrids in Punjab,
Haryana and Rajasthan

16. O B J E C T I V E S O F P L A N T B R E E D I N G
 Higher yield : The ultimate aim is
to increase yield (grain/ fodder/
fibre/ tuber/ cane/ oil) of produce
through HYV and hybrids.
 Improved quality : Increase the
price of commodity by improving
the quality (cooking/ baking/
malting/ fibre/ nutritive/ oil
content).
 Biotic and abiotic resistance :
Genetic resistance against various
biotic stresses (insects, pathogens,
weeds) and abiotic stresses
(drought, salinity, heat, wind, cold,
frost) by developing resistant
varieties.
 Change in maturity duration :
Formation of short duration
varieties for – less crop
management, less insecticidal
period, less protection measures,
double cropping etc.
 Change in agronomic
characteristics : Formation of tall
rice varieties to prevent flood,
dwarf rice varieties for lodging
resistance, branching, tillering.
 Development of photo insensitivity
: For cultivating through out the
year the photo insensitive variety
(IR – 36, IET4876) is required.
Also helps in climatic adaptability.

17.  Development of thermo insensitivity
: Development of thermo insensitive
variety (Bhima Super, Bhima Red of
onion) through breeding.
 Synchronous maturity : Maturity of
a crop at a time for easier harvesting
specially in pulses (green gram, cow
pea) and cotton.
 Determinate growth : To produce
determinate growth habit in pulse
crop mainly. Determinate growth is
the limited growth with a
inflorescence or fruit in upper most
part (from top bud) and bushy type
plant.
 Non – shattering characteristics :
Prevent shattering loss of seeds
which causes economic loss and
problems of volunteer plants in
field.
 Induce or breaking of dormancy :
Induce dormancy in green gram to
prevent germination while intact in
plant. Breaking of dormancy in rice
for cultivation in another season.
 Varieties for another season : To
produce new varieties for new
seasons and new areas.
 Elimination of toxic substances :
Elimination of toxic elements like –
HCN content in jowar plants, erusic
acid in brassicas, cucurbitacin in
cucurbits, lathyrogen (β,N – oxalyl
amine alanine) are removed.

18.  Wider Adaptability : Varieties for
cultivation in wide range of
environmental conditions;
stabilizes crop production over
regions and seasons.
 Development of bio-fortified
varieties : Development of bio-
fortified varieties (golden rice) for
incorporating various essential
elements in crops.

19. A C T I V I T I E S O F P L A N T B R E E D I N G
Creation of variation
Selection
Evaluation
Multiplication
Distribution
1. Domestication
2. Germplasm Collection
3. Plant Introduction
1. Hybridization
2. Mutation
3. Polyploidy
4. Somaclonal Variation
5. Genetic Engineering
Naturally existing variations
Induced / Created variations