ARTICLE: How do scientists do traditional plant breeding?

The following is an excerpt of a blog post from the American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society of America about how plant scientists develop new plants. 

The “science” of plant breeding has only existed for a little more than a century. But, humans have unofficially been selecting for the ‘cream of the crop’ for over 10,000 years. Farmers selected seeds from their prize crops for the following year. Plant traits they might have looked for were crops that yielded the highest, stood the tallest, and overall had the best traits. This practice largely shaped how our food looks today.

Plant breeders are still focused on their number one goal: yield. Population growth and land restrictions mean we have to grow more food with less space. Different plant breeders work on different crops. Each crop has its own set of diseases, insects, and special requirements that make it unique. Additionally, changing weather patterns make drought (or flood) tolerance necessary. Breeders are working in the background to select for the most nutritious, flavorful fruits and vegetables!

Crop breeders would all agree that plant breeding, while technically defined as a science, is equally an art. Breeding involves genetic selection of plants to the benefit of people. But, there are several different styles of plant breeding. This post will cover the more traditional styles.

To read more about plant breeding, please visit the Sustainable, Secure Food Blog.