3. Introduction
Morphological Characters
• Physical attributes of an organism
(crops).
• Includes characteristics such as
the shape and size of body parts,
presence or absence of specific
structures, and overall body
proportions.
• Examples: Leaf Size, leaf
orientation, height, wax
deposition, spikes, etc.
4. Introduction
Physiological Characters.
• Refers to the internal processes
and functions that allow plants to
grow, develop, and respond to
their environment.
• Involves biochemical and
physiological mechanisms that
enable the organism to perform
essential functions.
• Examples; Photosynthesis,
Transpiration, Respiration,
Nutrient take-up, hormone
regulation, Stress tolerance
mechanisms, etc.
6. Why?
• Ability of crops to survive and
thrive in different conditions
depends on the morpho-
physiological traits.
• Morphology Influences Physiology.
Examples:
• Drought Tolerant: Small and
narrow leaves, more erect, more
photosynthesis(high chlorophyll
content) and low disease severity.
• Canopy Temperature Deficient
(CTD), declines and oxidative
stress normalized.
8. Breeding Procedure
Step 1: Identification of Traits and Selection of Parent.
Step 2: Mating of Parents with desirable traits.
Step 3: Evaluation of offspring’s for genetic gain.
Step 4: Selection and its procedure.
Step 5: Monitoring and Improvement.
9. Breeding Procedure
Step 1: Identification of Traits and
Selection of Parent.
• Identify the specific traits to be
improved.
• Can be any traits like disease
resistance, shape, sizes, etc.
• Selection of suitable parent
possessing such traits from
available sources.
• Traits: High Heritability.
10. Breeding Procedure
Step 2: Mating of Parents with
desirable traits.
• To ensure that their genetic
material is combined.
• Achieved through various breeding
techniques such as natural or
controlled pollination in plants.
• May be inbreeding or outbreeding.
Why?
• To facilitate the transfer of the
desired traits from the parents to
the offspring.
11. Breeding Procedure
Step 3: Evaluation of offspring’s for
genetic gain.
• For the presence of the desired
morpho-physiological traits.
• Involve visual inspections,
measurements, laboratory tests,
or other evaluation methods,
depending on the traits being
targeted.
• Evaluation of offspring in control
as well as modified (stressed)
environment.
12. Breeding Procedure
Step 4: Selection and its procedure.
• Selection of the individuals that
exhibit the desired traits to
become the parents of the next
generation.
• Selection Procedure: Based on the
population structure (Self,
Crossed).
• Pure line selection, Backcross
method, recurrent selection, etc.
13. Breeding Procedure
Step 4: Repeated Selection.
• Repetition of the breeding
process, starting from step 2,
using the selected individuals
from the previous generation as
the new parents.
• Allows for the continuous
improvement and accumulation of
the desired traits over successive
generations.
14. Breeding Procedure
Step 5: Monitoring and
Improvement.
• Necessary to address any
potential setbacks or challenges.
• Involve adjusting breeding
strategies, incorporating new
genetic material, or adapting the
program based on feedback and
performance data.
• Information helps refine the
breeding program by identifying
the most successful breeding pairs
and guiding future selection
decisions.
15. Conclusion
• Breeding for morpho-physiological
traits: careful planning, selection,
and monitoring to achieve the
desired outcomes.
• Gradually enhance and stabilize
the desired morpho-physiological
traits within a population.
• Takes several years or even
decades, depending on the
complexity of the traits and the
reproductive characteristics of the
crop being bred.
