Agriculture Bihar agriculture university Book BAU

Fundamentals of Plant Breeding

September 16, 2025

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Fundamentals of Plant Breeding provides a clear and comprehensive introduction to the science and art of crop improvement. Written for students of agriculture, genetics, and biotechnology, the book covers the theoretical principles and practical methods used to develop high-yielding, disease-resistant, and climate-resilient crop varieties.

The text begins with the history and scope of plant breeding, from early domestication of crops to modern advances in molecular breeding. It explains the genetic principles of heredity, variation, and selection, which form the foundation of breeding strategies.

Core topics include methods of plant breeding such as selection, hybridization, mutation breeding, polyploidy, backcrossing, and heterosis breeding. The book also explores breeding for self-pollinated, cross-pollinated, and vegetatively propagated crops, supported with practical examples from cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and horticultural crops.

Modern tools of biotechnology and molecular biology—including marker-assisted selection, tissue culture, transgenic breeding, and genome editing (CRISPR-Cas systems)—are presented as integral to contemporary plant breeding programs. Special emphasis is placed on breeding for stress tolerance, nutritional quality, and sustainability to meet the challenges of global food security.

Illustrations, tables, and case studies aid understanding, while review questions and exercises support learning outcomes.

By combining classical breeding concepts with cutting-edge technologies, Fundamentals of Plant Breeding equips students, researchers, and professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to agricultural innovation and crop improvement.

Book Details

Language: English

Pages: 119

Compiled By : DR ANAND KUMAR, DR S.P. SINGH & SRI CHANDAN KISHORE

Price: Free

Course Outline of Fundamentals of Plant Breeding

Sl. No.	Topic
1	Historical development, concept, nature and role of plant breeding, Major achievements and future prospects
2	Genetics in relation to Plant Breeding, Mode of reproduction and apomixis, Self incompatibility and male sterility – genetic consequences
3	Domestication, Acclimatization and Introduction
4	Centre of Origin/diversity
5	Component of genetic variation: Heritability and Genetic advance
6	Genetic basis and breeding methods in self-pollinated and cross-pollinated crops – mass selection and pure line selection, Hybridization techniques
7	Handling of segregating populations
8	Multiline concept
9	Concept of population genetics and Hardy–Weinberg Law
10	Genetic basis and methods of breeding of cross-pollinated crops, modes of selection
11	Population Improvement schemes – Ear to row, modified ear to row method, recurrent selection schemes
12	Heterosis and Inbreeding depression, development of Inbred lines and hybrid, composites and synthetic varieties
13	Breeding methods in asexually propagated crops, clonal selection and hybridization
14	Maintenance of Breeding records and data collection
15	Wide hybridization and Pre-breeding
16	Polyploidy in relation to plant breeding
17	Mutation breeding – methods and uses
18	Breeding for important Abiotic stresses
19	Biotechnological tools – DNA markers and marker assisted selection
20	Intellectual Property Rights, Plant Breeders and Farmer’s Rights; Participatory Plant Breeding