Chapter- 3 Plant Breeding

• History of plant breeding. 
• Modes of reproduction, 

1. Apomixis

• selfing and crossing techniques. 
• Origin, evolution and domestication of crop plants, 
• center of origin, 
• law of homologous series, 
• crop genetic resources- conservation and utilization. 
• Application of principles of plant breeding, improvement of crop plants. 
• Molecular markers and their application in plant improvement. 

1. Molecular marker

• Pure-line selection, pedigree, mass and recurrent selections, combining ability, its significance in plant breeding. 
• Heterosis and its exploitation. 
• Somatic hybridization. 
• Breeding for disease and pest resistance. 
• Role of interspecific and intergeneric hybridization. 
• Role of genetic engineering and biotechnology in crop improvement. 
• Genetically modified crop plants.