Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Selection methods in plant breeding based on mode of reproduction
open-in-new
<p><a href="/facts/Plant_breeders/GFlyFbSK">Plant breeders</a> use different methods depending on the mode of <a href="/facts/Reproduction/nNu0F5Dy">reproduction</a> of crops, which include: </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Self-fertilization/1rnS5IK8">Self-fertilization</a>, where <a href="/facts/Pollen/eqRP052I">pollen</a> from a plant will <a href="/facts/Fertilise/g8u3UKzF">fertilise</a> reproductive cells or <a href="/facts/Ovules/DFvS1VvA">ovules</a> of the same plant</li> <li><a href="/facts/Cross-pollination/u383g7XJ">Cross-pollination</a>, where pollen from one plant can only fertilize a different plant</li> <li><a href="/facts/Plant_propagation/tHTSBRTI">Asexual propagation</a> (e.g. runners from <a href="/facts/Strawberry/M4oa6zJ9">strawberry</a> plants) where the new plant is <a href="/facts/Genetics/bu8wne0A">genetically</a> identical to its parent</li> <li><a href="/facts/Apomixis/LVzVnGua">Apomixis</a> (self-cloning), where seeds are produced asexually and the new plant is genetically identical to its parent</li></ul> <p>The mode of reproduction of a crop determines its genetic composition, which, in turn, is the deciding factor to develop suitable <a href="/facts/Selective_breeding/CAkkM2UG">breeding</a> and <a href="/facts/Selection_(biology)/JXTte6en">selection</a> methods. Knowledge of mode of reproduction is also essential for its artificial manipulation to breed improved types. Only those breeding and selection methods are suitable for a crop which does not interfere with its natural state or ensure the maintenance of such a state. It is due to such reasons that imposition of self-fertilization on cross-pollinating crops leads to drastic reduction in their performance. </p><p>For teaching purpose, plant breeding is presented as four categories: Line breeding (autogamous crops), population breeding (<a href="/facts/Allogamy/1TXu9yKx">allogamous</a> crops), <a href="/facts/Hybrid_(biology)/pzVJ54xU">hybrid</a> breeding (mostly allogamous crops, some <a href="/facts/Reproduction/nNu0F5Dy">autogamous</a> crops), clone breeding (vegetatively propagated crops). </p>