Plant Breeding And Whole-system Crop Physiology: Improving Adaptation, Maturity And Yield

Yield improvement is one goal of virtually every crop breeding program. Many programs concentrate on identifying the genetic traits responsible for higher yield and selecting each of them in the later stages of the breeding cycle. However, selection for yield directly is still the most effective method, since yield is determined by a combination of traits and environmental factors. This book presents a whole-system, or holistic model for the improvement of adaptation, maturity, and yield. Central to its thesis is a recognition that competition between several components of the plant system determines yield and other cultivar characteristics. The book examines this competition and uses the results to provide insights into plant systems in general. It then shows how to enhance the success of breeding trials by balancing different yield components while taking into account prevailing field conditions. Based principally on 25 years research by the authors, the ideas presented in this book are invaluable reading for crop physiologists and plant breeders.