Mass selection is a plant breeding method used to improve self-pollinated crops. It involves planting a segregating population in large plots and harvesting the crop in bulk. Undesirable plants are eliminated in each generation to select for desirable traits. Mass selection allows for a large pool of plant genetic material to be manipulated over multiple generations. The method retains genetic variability but generally results in less improvement than pure line selection.

2. MASS SELECTION
Mass selection can be used in the improvement
of self pollinated crops by planting segregating
populations in large plots and harvesting in
bulks.
Selection may be practiced in each generations
by eliminating undesirable plants.
Mass selection permits a large pool of
germplasm to be manipulated an carried along.

3. STEPS IN MASS SELECTION
 FIRST YEAR- A large no. of phenotypically similar
plants are selected for their vigour, plant type, disease
resistance, etc. The no. may vary from few hundred in
few thousands. Seed from selected plants are
composited to raise next generation
 SECOND YEAR – The composite seeds are planted in
a preliminary yield trial along with standard check
variety. The variety from which the selection was
made should also be included as a check to
determine if there has been an improvement due to
the selection.

4. THIRD TO SIXTH YEAR – The variety is
evaluated in a coordinated yield trials of
several locations.
SEVENTH YEAR – The variety may be released
for cultivation if found suitable and if
recommended

5. APPLICATION OF MASS
SELECTION
In self pollinated crops mass selection has two
basic applications :-
1. Improvement of local varieties
2. Purification of existing varieties

6. ADVANTAGES OF MASS
SELLECTION
It retains considerable genetic variability.
Reduction in time and cost because extensive
and prolonged yield trials are expensive
Since a large no. of plants are selected the
adaptation of original variety is not changed.

7. DISADVANTAGES OF MASS
SELLECTION
 The varieties show variation.
 The improvement through mass selection is
generally less than that through pure lines.
 It is note commonly used in self pollinated crops.
 In the absence of progeny test, it is impossible to
determine if the selected plant is homozygous.
 The varieties are more difficult to identify than pure
line in seed certification programme.

8. PURELINE BREEDING
This is the development of new varsities from the
old ‘land’ varieties that have passed down from
generation to generation of the farmers.
Most plants selected from such varieties can be
expected to be homozygous and hence the
starting point of a new tree breeding variety.
PURE LINE – Pure line is the progeny of single self
fertilised homozygous plant.

9. PROCEDURE
Select a no. of single plant, compare their
progenies in field trials and save the single
most valuable progenies as a new variety.
Many valuable varieties are traced back to a
single chance variant noticed and selected by
farmers.

10.  USES OF PURE LINE
1. The phenotypic differences within a pure line is
environmental and therefore non heritable.
2. The pure line becomes genetically variable with time
due to mechanical mixture, mutation, etc.
 Superior line is used as variety.
It is used as parent in development of new variety
by hybridisation.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PURE LINE
SELECTION

11. APPLICATION OF PURE LINE
SELLECTION
 It is used for improvement of local varieties, have a
considerable genetic variability, e.g., wheat variety NP-4
and NP-52 .
 It is practiced in introduced material to develop suitable
varieties, e.g., Shining mung-1 selected from Kulu type-1
.
 It provides an opportunity for selection of new
characteristics such as disease resistance, grain type,
plant type, etc.
 It provides an opportunity for selection in the
segregating generations from crosses.

12. MERITS OF PUE LINE
METHOD
1. Pure line selection achieves maximum
possible improvement over the original
variety.
2. It is easier than hybridisation, required less
skill.
3. Used for developing inbreed line and pure
line.

13. DEMERITS OF PURE LINE
 It is not participated in cross pollinated crops because
it is expensive and laborious.
 The variety developed can’t be easily maintained by
the farmers.
 The varieties developed by pure line selection do not
have wide adaptability and stability in production.
 The upper limit on the improvement is created by the
genetic variation present in the original population.

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