Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding

Section 3
Germplasm issues
Chapter 5 Variation: types, origin, and scale
Chapter 6 Plant genetic resources for plant breeding
Without variability, it is not possible to conduct a plant breeding program! Germplasm is hence the critical first
step in initiating a breeding program. Diversity in plants is enormous. It needs to be organized and characterized
in order to facilitate its use by plant breeders. Students need to understand how this tremendous variation
originates and the manner in which it is organized or classified. They need to know the sources to which
breeders may go to find germplasm to initiate their breeding programs, and the rationale for selecting materials
for breeding. The way breeders use plant germplasm has consequences in the agricultural production system.
Major issues include the vulnerability of existing cultivars to disease epidemics because of the nature in which
plant breeders over the years have manipulated and deployed them.