Applied Genetics and Plant Breeding in 21st Century for Crop Improvement – Status and Prospects

Abstract

The foundation for molecular plant breeding is an interdisciplinary science that has revolutionized the 21st century with incorporation of genomic research, biotechnology and molecular marker applications with conventional plant breeding practices. To meet the food demand of the ever-increasing population of the 21st century, conventional breeding methods like ideotype breeding, participatory plant breeding with combination of recent breeding approaches like Genetically Modified crops, Marker Assisted Selection, Next Generation Sequencing play a demanding role. Co-operation among farmers, plant breeders, researchers should exist to develop quality crops with increased nutritional value. The challenge to feed the ever-increasing population can be met by integrating different research disciplines and activities that form the core of molecular plant breeding. Success of genomics depends on the ability to improve crop phenotypes and reduce the phenotype gap which will be a major concern of the 21st century.