You're looking to improve your crop. What plant breeding tools should you use?

1 Selective breeding

Selective breeding is the oldest and simplest plant breeding tool. It involves choosing and crossing plants with desirable traits, such as high productivity, quality, or adaptation, and selecting the offspring that inherit those traits. Selective breeding can be done by farmers, gardeners, or researchers, and it does not require any special equipment or techniques. However, selective breeding has some limitations, such as slow progress, limited genetic diversity, and environmental dependence.

2 Mutation breeding

Mutation breeding is a plant breeding tool that uses physical or chemical agents, such as radiation or mutagens, to induce random changes in the DNA of plants. These changes can create new traits or variations that can be useful for plant improvement. Mutation breeding can be used to create novel genetic diversity, overcome sterility or incompatibility, or enhance resistance to stress or disease. However, mutation breeding also has some drawbacks, such as low efficiency, unpredictability, and potential health and environmental risks.

3 Marker-assisted breeding

Marker-assisted breeding is a plant breeding tool that uses molecular markers, such as DNA sequences or proteins, to identify and select plants with specific traits or genes. Molecular markers can help plant breeders to speed up the breeding process, reduce the cost and labor, and increase the accuracy and reliability. Marker-assisted breeding can be used to improve complex traits, such as drought tolerance or disease resistance, or to transfer genes from different species or genera. However, marker-assisted breeding still requires conventional breeding methods and may face technical and ethical challenges.

5 Genome editing

Genome editing is a plant breeding tool that uses molecular tools, such as CRISPR-Cas9, to precisely and efficiently target and alter specific DNA sequences in plants. Genome editing can create precise changes in the genome, such as adding, deleting, or replacing nucleotides, without introducing foreign DNA. Genome editing can enable novel traits, such as herbicide tolerance or improved nutrition, or correct undesirable traits, such as allergens or toxins. However, genome editing also has some uncertainties, such as off-target effects, unintended consequences, and legal and ethical implications.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?