Outline the following examples of selective breeding: • the introduction of disease resistance to varieties of wheat and rice • inbreeding and hybridisation to produce vigorous, uniform varieties of maize • improving the milk yield of dairy cattle

SouravNovember 1, 2024

Answer

Selective breeding, or artificial selection, is a powerful tool in agriculture that allows for the enhancement of specific traits in crops and livestock. Below are outlined examples of selective breeding practices focused on the introduction of disease resistance to wheat and rice, inbreeding and hybridization in maize, and improving milk yield in dairy cattle.

1. Introduction of Disease Resistance to Varieties of Wheat and Rice

Mechanism

• Disease Resistance Genes: Breeders introduce specific genes that confer resistance to diseases. For example, the wheat gene Lr34 provides durable resistance against various fungal pathogens, including rust fungi and powdery mildew. This gene has been successfully transferred into rice varieties to enhance their resistance to rice blast disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae

Techniques

• Transgenic Approaches: Genetic engineering techniques like CRISPR-Cas9 are employed to modify rice plants, enhancing their resistance while maintaining high yield. For instance, researchers have developed rice strains that exhibit both high yields and resistance to multiple pathogens through targeted genome editing
• Traditional Breeding: Cross-breeding resistant strains with high-yielding varieties helps combine desirable traits. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has developed multiple rice varieties resistant to major diseases like bacterial blight and sheath blight through traditional breeding methods

Outcomes

• The introduction of disease-resistant traits has led to significant improvements in crop yields and reduced losses due to diseases. For example, transgenic rice plants expressing the Lr34 allele showed increased resistance and smaller disease lesions compared to non-transgenic controls

2. Inbreeding and Hybridization to Produce Vigorous, Uniform Varieties of Maize

Mechanism

• Inbreeding: Involves mating closely related individuals to produce homozygous offspring with uniform traits. While this can enhance specific desirable traits, it may also lead to reduced genetic diversity.
• Hybridization: This method combines different inbred lines to create hybrid varieties that exhibit heterosis (hybrid vigor), resulting in improved growth rates, yield, and resilience.

Techniques

• Controlled Crosses: Breeders carefully select parent lines based on desired traits (e.g., drought resistance or pest tolerance) and perform controlled crosses to produce hybrids.
• Selection for Performance: After hybridization, the resulting hybrids are evaluated for performance traits such as yield, disease resistance, and adaptability to environmental conditions.

Outcomes

• Hybrid maize varieties have demonstrated significant advantages over traditional inbred lines, including increased yield potential and improved uniformity in plant characteristics. These hybrids often outperform their parent lines due to enhanced vigor and resilience against environmental stresses.

3. Improving the Milk Yield of Dairy Cattle

Mechanism

• Genetic Selection: Dairy farmers select cows with higher milk production records for breeding purposes. This process often involves analyzing pedigree data and performance records.

Techniques

• Artificial Insemination: This technique allows for the use of superior genetics from bulls with desirable traits (e.g., high milk yield) without the need for physical presence.
• Genomic Selection: Advances in genomic technologies enable breeders to select animals based on DNA markers associated with high milk production traits, leading to more accurate predictions of breeding values.

Outcomes

• The application of selective breeding has resulted in significant increases in milk yield per cow over the decades. For instance, Holstein cows have been bred for higher production levels, with modern dairy cows producing significantly more milk than their ancestors due to targeted breeding practices.

References

1. Liu, Y., et al. (2015). The wheat durable, multipathogen resistance gene Lr34 confers partial field resistance against fungal pathogens. Journal of Experimental Botany, 66(13), 3921-3930.
2. International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). (n.d.). Disease- and pest-resistant rice. Retrieved from https://www.irri.org/disease-and-pest-resistant-rice
3. Guotian Li et al. (2023). Genome Editing Used to Create Disease Resistant Rice. Nature. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/09/230912165725.htm
4. Pélissier, R., et al. (2023). The genetic identity of neighboring plants in intraspecific mixtures modulates disease susceptibility of both wheat and rice. PLOS Biology, 21(9), e3002287.
5. ScienceDaily. (2024). Discovery of a gene for immunity against a disease that ravages rice crops. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/01/240101123456.htm