About Book

Plant breeding is the science driven creative process of developing new plant varieties that goes by various names including cultivar development, crop improvement and seed improvement. Breeding involves the creation of multi-generation genetically diverse populations, on which human selection is practiced to create adapted plants with new combinations of specific desirable traits. The selection process is driven by biological assessment in relevant target environments and knowledge of genes and genomes. Progress is assessed based on gain under selection, which is a function of genetic variation, selection intensity, and time. Plant breeding is an important tool in promoting global food security, and many staple crops have been bred to better withstand extreme weather conditions associated with global warming, such as drought or heat waves. This book aims to shed light on some of the unexplored aspects of plant breeding. The topics included in this text are of utmost significance and are bound to provide incredible insights to the readers. It explores various topics such as molecular breeding, grain quality, abiotic stress, quality improvement, cotton breeding, genetic variation and marker-assisted breeding. The various subfields of plant breeding along with technological progress those have future implications are glanced at in it. This book is a complete source of knowledge on the present status of this important field. Coherent flow of topics, student-friendly language and extensive use of examples make this book an invaluable source of knowledge. It aims to serve as a resource guide for graduates and postgraduates alike and contribute to the growth of the discipline.

Preface............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Marker-Assisted Breeding in Wheat......................................................1

Abstract ..................................................................................................1

1. Introduction ..........................................................................................2

2. Linkage and molecular markers .......................................................3

3. Application of MAS in breeding for disease resistance in wheat

diseases ..................................................................................................3

4. Marker-assisted wheat breeding for improving quality traits ...9

5. Conclusion and perspectives............................................................13

Chapter 2 Genetic Variation of Landraces of Common Bean Varying for Seed Coat Glossiness and Disease Resistance: Valuable Resources for Conservation and Breeding....................................................................26

Abstract ................................................................................................26

1. Introduction ........................................................................................27

2. The Serro Azul landrace: parental genotypes and segregating

populations...........................................................................................28

3. Unraveling the genetic control of seed glossiness and its

importance taking Serro Azul as an example .............................30

4. Serro Azul as a source of disease resistance ...............................33

5. Analysis and conservation of the genetic diversity of

landraces ..............................................................................................36

6. Perspectives of the conservation and use of bean landraces ...39

7. Conclusions .........................................................................................40

Acknowledgements ...........................................................................41

Conflict of interest .............................................................................41

Chapter 3 Impact of the Bijective Relationship between Single and Bundle

Cotton Fiber’s in Cotton Breeding Programs.....................................47

Abstract ................................................................................................47

1. Introduction ........................................................................................47

2. Cotton fiber properties .....................................................................48

3. Measurements of cotton fiber properties ......................................51

4. Case study ...........................................................................................53

5. Conclusion............................................................................................63

Chapter 4 Breeding Potato for Quality Improvement.........................................67

Abstract ................................................................................................67

1. Introduction ........................................................................................68

2. Origin of potato .................................................................................70

3. Nutritional content of potato............................................................71

4. Genetics and chromosomal variations of potato .........................72

5. Quality traits of potato .....................................................................74

6. Conclusions .........................................................................................88

Chapter 5 Molecular Breeding for Abiotic Stresses in Maize (Zea mays L.)....96

Abstract.................................................................................................96

1. Introduction..........................................................................................97

2. Few case studies................................................................................100

3. Genetic engineering..........................................................................105

4. Few case studies................................................................................105

5. Conclusions........................................................................................106

Chapter 6 Breeding Rice for Improved Grain Quality.....................................113

Abstract...............................................................................................113

1. Introduction........................................................................................113

2. Genetic analyses of grain quality in rice.....................................119

Acknowledgements...........................................................................128

Chapter 7 Molecular Breeding of Cotton.............................................................139

Abstract...............................................................................................139

1. Introduction........................................................................................140

2. Breeding for polygenic traits..........................................................144

3. DNA makers in cotton.....................................................................148

4. Mapping populations.......................................................................158

5. Some applications of markers in breeding schemes..................160

6. Gene pyramiding for MAS.............................................................161

7. Next‐generation sequencing (NGS)...............................................161

8. Genotyping by sequencing..............................................................162

9. Association mapping........................................................................163

10. Public data resources........................................................................164

11. Targeting‐induced local lesions in genomes (TILLINGS).........165

12. Conclusions........................................................................................165

Chapter 8 Peach Breeding Studies in Turkey and the Evaluation of Peach and Nectarine Hybrids .................................................................................192

Abstract ..............................................................................................192

1. Introduction ......................................................................................193

2. Material and method ......................................................................198

3. Results and discussion ...................................................................200

4. Conclusion..........................................................................................208

Chapter 9 Wheat in Kenya: Past and Twenty-First Century Breeding.........212

Abstract...............................................................................................212

1. Introduction........................................................................................212

2. Conclusion..........................................................................................221

Acknowledgements...........................................................................223

Citation......................................................................................................227

Index...........................................................................................................229

About Author

Samuel Bailey holds Ph.D. in Plant Science from State University, Oregon. His research topics include plant production, plant conservation, plant breeding and genetics. He serves as a Guest Lecturer at various universities across America and Europe. He has written several articles and research papers on crop farming, plant breeding, floriculture crops and plant growth regulators. He has travelled and lectured extensively throughout Europe and America; primarily for higher education. Bailey is on the editorial board of several renowned botany journals, and has edited 50 technical papers and 6 reference books. He has also won over 10 awards and recognitions for his researches and services.