What is Plant Breeding ?

 

Plant Breeding is the genetic improvement of crop plants for human benefit through the study and application of multiple scientific disciplines. Plant breeding is also described as the collection, creation/manipulation, and evaluation of genetic variation to make heritable changes in plants that are advantageous to mankind.

What is the importance of Plant Breeding?

• It addresses world food security issues directly or indirectly by:
• Increasing the efficiency/productivity of crops and production system.
• Improving the bioavailability of key nutrients or reducing antinutritive compounds.
• Developing crops for specific production systems.
• Making forages more digestible and creating efficient bio renewable fuels.

Why Study Plant Breeding?

The world is facing unprecedented Grand Challenges that include:

• The world population is growing significantly and is predicted to be >9 billion by 2050.
• There are no appreciable changes in availability of crop land globally.
• Water tables are falling.
• Climate change is increasing risks associated with crop production.
• Crop yields must increase 2-fold by 2050 to meet the projected global demand for food and feed.
• Plant Breeders play a central role in addressing these grand challenges by enhancing the quantity and quality of food, feed, fiber and biofuels globally, even under these difficult scenarios.

Plant Breeder:

1. Breeder is a vital team player, who is always be aware, of the needs and supports needed by other members, to achieve the overall goal.
2. He/she has an vital role in seed production, seed quality, seed marketing as well as in Management, in addition to his core role in development of newer hybrids & varieties.
3. Knowledge and skills in additional roles is essential to build the career as a Plant Breeder in the seed industry.

Where can I work as a Plant Breeder?

• Both private and public sector jobs are available for plant breeders to apply their knowledge for the ultimate goal of developing cultivars suited to human needs.
• Approximately 65-75% of breeders work in the private sector and 25-35% are employed in the public sector.
•  Several studies have been conducted to predict the future demand of plant breeders in the U.S. and internationally, and they agreed in the strong demand for plant breeding graduates.