marker-assisted selection in wheat - ictsd

Marker-assisted selection – Current status and future perspectives in crops, livestock, forestry and fishSummaryThis chapter provides an overview of the techniques, current status and issues involved inusing marker-assisted selection (MAS) for genetic improvement in developing countries.Molecular marker maps, the necessary framework for any MAS programme, have beenconstructed for the majority of agriculturally important species, although the densityof the maps varies considerably among species. Despite the considerable resources thathave been invested in this field and despite the enormous potential it still represents, withfew exceptions, MAS has not yet delivered its expected benefits in commercial breedingprogrammes for crops, livestock, forest trees or farmed fish in the developed world. Whenevaluating the potential merits of applying MAS as a tool for genetic improvement indeveloping countries, some of the issues that should be considered are its economic costsand benefits, its potential benefits compared with conventional breeding or with applicationof other biotechnologies, and the potential impact of intellectual property rights (IPRs) onthe development and application of MAS.