Briefly describe the various steps involved in plant breeding.

Explanation

Breeding of new genetic variety of crops involve-
a) Collection of variability - The entire collection (of plants and seeds) having all diverse alleles for all genes in a given crop is called germplasm collection.
b) Evaluation and selection of parents -The germplasm is evaluated in order to identify plants with desirable combination of characters and selection of parents.
c) Cross hybridisation among the selected parents- Involves cross hybridizing the two parents to produce hybrids that genetically combine the desired characters in one plant.
d) Selection and testing of superior recombinants - It involves the selection of superior plants than both the parents among the progency of the hybrids. Plants with desired character of combination are self pollinated for several generations, so that the characters do not segregate in the progeny.
e) Testing, release and commercialisation of new cultivars - The newly selected lines are tested and evaluated by growing in research fields. Then later, the materials are tested in farmers field for atleast three growing seasons at several agro climatic zones where the crop is usually grown, The material is evaluated in comparison to the best available local crop cultivar - a check or reference cultivar and commercialised.