Simmonds, Chapt. 2 & 3.
Crop Breeding. CSSA. Chapt. 1
Poehlman, Chapt 1.

Remember that increases in crop productivity come from careful attention to

1. water;
2. fertilizer;
3. pest control;
4. crop variety;
5. tillage.
6. seed condition (quality, viability, rate).

Plant breeders concentrate on changing the crop variety.

Explain the difference between productivity and production. Breeders change productivity -- improve competitiveness (need to know this in a world of surpluses).

New varieties must improve productivity, keep pace with changing insect and disease pests, new production practices, and advances in mechanization. (ex., New races of insects or diseases, combines or mechanical harvesters, no-till farming). Breeders must keep pace and actually have to predict the future -- breeding is a long term effort -- it takes 10 years to release a variety. Breeders are synthesizers of diverse knowledge.

Plant Breeding -- the art and science of changing and improving the heredity of plants. Strategy:

1. Recognize morphological traits and physiological and pathological responses of plant species that are important for adaptation, yield, and quality of the crop species.

2. Design techniques that will evaluate the genetic potential for these traits in strains of appropriate species. -- Assay development.

3. Search for new sources of genes for the desired traits that may be utilized in the breeding program.

4. Combine the genetic potential for these traits into and improved variety or cultivar.

Plant breeders need:

1. a course of action;
2. to be aware of the limitations;
3. pick the best plant breeding tool; and
4. monitor the plants.