Genomics tools for accelerating plant breeding
Keywords:
plant breeding, genomics, abiotic stress, disease, molecular markersAbstract
Plant breeding is facing simultaneous challenges from a changing climate, increasing prices for nonrenewable inputs, and evolving consumer demands. Biotic and abiotic stresses are increasing with climate change; sustainable and stable production will require higher yields with lower inputs; consumers expect health-promoting, safe and traceable food. To meet these challenges, breeding requires more efficient tools with which to unlock and apply existing genetic diversity, to understand the relationship between genotype and phenotype, and to apply the approaches of biotechnology where appropriate. The growing genomics toolbox, based on genome projects for crop plants, offers much promise for acceleration of plant breeding. Here, these approaches will be explored with an emphasis on barley and wheat, which are the key cereal crops of Europe.
