Selection procedures used in plant breeding have gradually developed over a very long time span, in fact since settled agriculture was ?rst undertaken. Nowadays these procedures range from very simple mass selection methods, sometimes applied in an ine?ective way, to indirect trait selection based on molecular markers. The procedures di?er in costs as well as in genetic - ciency.Incontrasttothegenetice?ciency, costsdependonthelocalconditions encountered by the breeder. The genetic progress per unit of money invested varies consequently from site to site. This book considers consequently only...

Selection procedures used in plant breeding have gradually developed over a very long time span, in fact since settled agriculture was ?rst undertaken. Nowadays these procedures range from very simple mass selection methods, sometimes applied in an ine?ective way, to indirect trait selection based on molecular markers. The procedures di?er in costs as well as in genetic - ciency.Incontrasttothegenetice?ciency, costsdependonthelocalconditions encountered by the breeder. The genetic progress per unit of money invested varies consequently from site to site. This book considers consequently only...

The authors' aim in writing this book is to provide an integrated and updated view of the current scientific progress related to diverse plant breeding disciplines, within the context of applied breeding programs. With comprehensive coverage including questions designed for students, and an accompanying website containing additional material to help in the study of the subject, this is an ideal text for all those studying plant and crop sciences.