Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding

Part II
Breeding selected crops
Chapter 27 Breeding wheat
Chapter 28 Breeding corn
Chapter 29 Breeding rice
Chapter 30 Breeding sorghum
Chapter 31 Breeding soybean
Chapter 32 Breeding peanut
Chapter 33 Breeding potato
Chapter 34 Breeding cotton
The purpose of Part II is to discuss the breeding of selected major world crops, including their economic
importance, origin and history, genetics and cytogenetics, general botany, reproductive biology, and common
breeding methods used. A unique feature of this section is that professionals engaged in the breeding of each of
these selected crops have provided an overview of their breeding programs. The presentations are different in
style and content, according to the breeder’s preference. However, each presentation provides the student an
opportunity to see how the principles and concepts of genetics and plant breeding discussed in Part I are
applied in conducting an actual breeding program.
Purpose and expected outcomes
The purpose of each of the following chapters is to discuss the breeding of a particular crop. After studying this
chapter, the student should be able to:
1 Discuss the economic importance of the crop.
2 Discuss the origin and adaptation of the crop.
3 Discuss the genetics and cytogenetics of the crop that impact its breeding.
4 Describe the germplasm resources for breeding the crop.
5 Discuss the general botany and reproductive biology of the crop.
6 Present the common breeding methods used in breeding the crop.