Читать книгу Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding - George Acquaah - Страница 90

It has been said several times previously that plant breeding is a science and an art. Over the last decade, it has become clear that science is what is going to drive the achievements in plant breeding. More importantly, is it clear that a successful plant breeding program has an interdisciplinary approach, for recent strides in plant breeding have come about because of recent advances in allied disciplines. High‐tech cultivars need an appropriate cultural environment for the desired productivity. Advances in agronomy (tillage systems, irrigation technology, and herbicide technology) have contributed to the expansion of crop production acreage. In other words, plant breeders do not focus on crop improvement in isolation, but consider the importance of the ecosystem and its improvement to their success. Whereas most of the traditional plant breeding schemes and technologies previously discussed are still in use, the tools of biotechnology have been the dominant influence in the science of plant breeding. Paradigm shift in plant breeding is discussed in Chapter 30, where the changes in science and technologies that drive breeding are discussed in detail.