An Introduction To Plant Breeding Video Lecture - Class 12

Ans. Plant breeding is the science and art of altering the traits of plants in order to produce desired characteristics. It involves the selection and crossing of parental plants with desirable traits to obtain offspring with improved traits, such as higher yield, disease resistance, or better nutritional value.

Ans. Plant breeding is beneficial as it helps in developing new plant varieties that are more productive, resilient, and nutritious. It plays a crucial role in increasing food production to feed the growing global population. Plant breeding also helps in developing crops with improved resistance to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses, reducing the need for chemical inputs and promoting sustainable agriculture.

Ans. There are several methods used in plant breeding, including: 1. Conventional breeding: This method involves crossing two selected parent plants with desired traits and selecting the best offspring through repeated generations. 2. Hybridization: It involves crossing two genetically distinct parent plants to obtain hybrid offspring with desired traits. 3. Genetic engineering: This method involves the insertion or modification of specific genes in plants to introduce desired traits. 4. Mutagenesis: It involves the use of mutagens, such as radiation or chemicals, to induce mutations in plants and select those with desirable traits.

Ans. Plant breeding faces various challenges, including: 1. Genetic diversity: Limited genetic diversity in cultivated crops can hinder the development of new varieties with improved traits. 2. Time-consuming process: Developing new plant varieties through breeding can be a time-consuming process, requiring several generations and years of evaluation. 3. Complex traits: Traits like yield, drought tolerance, and disease resistance are often controlled by multiple genes, making their improvement through breeding challenging. 4. Regulatory and safety concerns: Genetic engineering techniques used in plant breeding may face regulatory and safety concerns, impacting their adoption and acceptance.

Ans. Plant breeding contributes to food security by developing new crop varieties with improved traits. These varieties can have higher yields, better resistance to pests and diseases, and improved nutritional content. By increasing agricultural productivity and resilience, plant breeding helps in ensuring a steady and sufficient food supply to meet the needs of a growing global population.