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NAHEP Component-2 Project “Investments In ICAR Leadership In Agricultural Higher Education”
Division of Computer Applications
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute
Course Details
Course Name Principles of Plant Breeding
Lesson Genetic Basis of Plant Breeding
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1
Created by
Name Role University
Sher-e-Kashmir University of
Parvaze Ahmad Sofi Content Revisor Agricultural Sciences and Technology
of Kashmir, Srinagar
Ch. Sarwan Kumar Krishi
Akhilesh Sharma Course Reviewer
Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur
2
GENETIC BASIS OF PLANT
BREEDING
PARVAZE A. SOFI
USDA NORMAN BORLAUG
FELLOW
Plant Breeding in terms of Genetics
Plant Breeding can be
defined as the
management of Genetic
Variability
Recombination
Transposition
Mutation
Sources
of
variation Ploidy
changes
Transformation
Epigenetic
Sources of genetic variation
• Recombination: This is perhaps the most significant source
of genetic variation in sexually propagation crop species. It
arises as a result of crossing over that occurs in the
pachytene stage of prophase of meiosis-I, Wherein
exchange of chromosome parts between homologous
chromosomes occurs. Such a reciprocal exchange of
chromosome segments, result in independent assortment
of genes.
• The number of possible combination of genes in F2 is where
“n” is the number of genes. If a trait is governed by 10
genes, the number of possible gene combinations in F2
would be 410=1048576. Genetic recombination also creates
variability upon hybridization of divergent parents.
Origin of genetic variation
• Mutation:- Mutations are a vital source of genetic variation
that are heritable. A striking example of a useful mutation
that has been exploited by plant breeders is opaque- 2
mutation in maize that leads to higher lysine and
tryptophan content.
• Mutation may occur either due to damages to DNA or
replication errors or may result from chromosomal
aberrations such as addition, deletion and translocation.
• Mutation may arise spontaneously under natural
processes or may be induced artificially using physical or
chemical mutagens.
Role of mutations in creating genetic variation (Source:www.ck12.org/)
Origin of genetic variation
• Transposition:- Transposition refers to the ability of
genes to move between chromosomes.
• It is regarded as illegitimate recombination as the
relocation usually occurs between non-homologous
chromosomes, and
– cause genetic rearrangement that can lead to altered
trait expression.
Origin of genetic variation
• Transformation:- Transformation refers to
transforming a host plant by introduction of a
foreign gene from an unrelated sources or
over-expression/suppression of a native gene
through recombinant DNA technology.
– This is an unconventional source of creating
genetic variability as it cuts across the sexual
barriers.
– It is generally used where no variability exists for
a trait in the cultivated/wild germplasm.
Development of Bt cotton by transformation (Source: www.edutik.hk)
Origin of genetic variation
• Epigenetic variation:- These are the epigenetic
variations (variations without change in genome
structure or organization) that arise during tissue
culture.
– They are much desirable than mutations because of
higher frequency and non-lethality of soma clonal
variants.
– Selections, however, can only be made for certain traits
that could be identified at cellular level and yield
arguably cannot be a candidate in this case.
• Example: Somaclonal variations
Origin of genetic variation
• Ploidy modifications: New variability may
arise naturally through modifications in
chromosome number as a result of
hybridization (between unidentical
genotypes), or abnormalities in the nuclear
division processes.
• Example: Evolution of brassica, wheat, cotton,
watermelon, grapes
Source: https://medwinpublishers.com/
Source://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/ CHIJ/CHIJ16000119.pdf
978-81-322-3772-3_2
Evolution of various Brassica species by ploidy modification (U triangle) (Source: Nagahari U)
Evolution of Hexaploid wheat by ploidy modification (Source: www.cerealsdb.uk.net)
Inadequate
variability
(HYBRIDISATION)
Adequate Managing Variation
variability the absent
(SELECTION) variability (MUTATION)
Variation outside
sexual boundaries
(TRANSGENICS)
Nature of gene action
(Additive, Dominance, Epistasis, G x E
interaction
No. of genes
controlling a Trait Heritability
(Qualitative v/s (Low/medium/high)
Quantitative)
Genetics
basis of
Plant
Breeding
Does not act on the gene but acts on
genotype through phenotype and
ultimately changes frequency of
genes and genotypes.
Does not create new
Effective only if genes or genotypes but
heritable influences their relative
variation is frequency by changing
their contribution to
present the progeny
Genetics
basis of
Selection
Free/ expressed Potential/hidden
variability variability
Types of
Variability
Proportion of free and potential variability in F2 and other generation
Generation Free Potential
Heterozygotic Homozygotic
Parents 4d2 0 0
F1 0 4d2 0
F2 d2 2d2 d2
F3 3/2 d2 d2 3/2 d2
F4 7/4 d2 ½ d2 7/4 d2
F∞ 2d2 0 2d2
Linkage Recombination
Factors
affecting
release of
Variability
Progress of
attaining
homozygosity.
Gene Nature of
recombination successful
in segregating gene
generations combinations
Genetics
basis of
Hybridization
Number of genes
differentiating
the parents:
Gene
recombination in Number of
segregating alleles at each
generations locus
Linkage
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