What are the responsibilities of plant breeder?

The main responsibility of plant breeder is to develop useful and desirable traits in different crops such as insect, pathogen and drought tolerances. The role of plant breeders is vital to the agricultural and horticultural industry as there are continuous challenges to fulfill the demand of formers needs in the changing climatic scenario. The application of traditional and modern plant breeding approach is playing vital role in crossing of existing plant, creating variations among them and selecting of new strains for enhancing its traits. Plant breeder has expertise to quickly and accurately choose plants which contains the genes of interest.

These are the responsibilities of plant breeders:

·         To identify research problems of present situation for aims and objectives, and predict the cost of the research work.

·         To develop the research methodology for improving the plant breeding programme.

·         To classify and select the crop exhibiting most desirable characters based on its natural genetic variation.

·         To develop new plant breeding materials for future breeding programme.

·         To analyze the scientific data and draw the critical conclusion for selecting the best genotype/varieties/ cultivars which are screened/ evaluated in laboratory and field trials.

·         Conducting of off season nursery trials for screening of specific diseases and insects.

·         Development and multiplication of virus free plant through plant tissue culture.

·         Maintenance of pedigree record, crop catalogue and data base for all the trails throughout the service period which helps to take up need based research activities to combat local/region specific problems.

·         To manage, support and train the technical and supporting staff about crossing and selfing techniques.

·         To keep up-to-date in the fast moving research area of agricultural science and translate idea from literature of science into novel approaches to plant breeding problems.

·         To develop a product market profile after monitoring of competitors (in commercial setting).

·         To respond theevery queries from progressive formers, extension leaders/ scientists who are working at village level which helps to solve the problems of needy formers.

·         To write and represent the research work in conference/workshop/seminar at national or international platform and publish research finding in scientific journals.

·          To sign MoU with reputed national and international research centers to exchange the breeding materials and germplasm accessions and visit other institute to update the knowledge.