b'This article was condensed for print. Read the full version at seedworld.com/the-evolution-of-plant-breeding/The Evolution of Plant BreedingTHE DEVELOPMENT ANDfuture of human civiliza- The search for natural variants is essentially a scav-tion is intrinsically linked to our ability to produce foodenger hunt among as diverse a gene pool as possible efficiently. Innovation is critical to address the chal- across a specific type of crop. For certain traits of inter-lenges of a growing population and an Earth facingest to the agricultural community, adequate natural increasing pressures. For thousands of years, farmersvariation does not exist or is very difficult to find. This have been focused on improving their crops.created the need to develop novel genetic diversity This evolution from phenotypic to molecular towith mutations. These are created through chemical digital and predictive breeding approaches allows foror radiation-based treatments, techniques employed JOHN P. PURCELL,the introduction of new higher performing varieties ofsince the middle of the 20th century. In this scenario, PhD, is chief strategyseeds at a faster rate than at any time in human history. mutagenesis could be used to generate genetic vari-officerand InterimPhenotypic breeding: Field Based. For centuries,ants in a generally random fashion that bestow specific chief scientific officeryield improvement was gained by selecting the bestcharacteristics or traits of interest.at Unfold seeds from the previous harvests. As plant breedersThe last decade has brought great progress in a entered the equation, it still required that the breederpowerful new technology known as gene editing. This make their selections from how the crop performed inallows breeders to generate variation in a faster and the field.more targeted means. Single genes or genes involved Phenotypic breeding brought obvious cropin specific biochemical or physiological pathways improvements but was time consuming and laborcould now be targeted to create variants that drive intensive. Breeders were at the mercy of the biologicalgenetic improvement of a crop or deliver on a novel constraints of the crop and suffered from widely vary- product concept. These powerful processes allowed ing environmental conditions from growing season tofor an even faster rate of innovation and delivery of growing season, which made controlled experimentsnew products to the marketplace than ever before. The more difficult and limited the rate of genetic gain. limitation is that the variation remains confined to the Molecular Breeding: Laboratory Based. With thegenetic arsenal of the crop of interest.DEREK DROST,advent of modern biology and the vast acceleration inNo matter how advanced the technologies are to PhD, is vice presidentthe understanding of how genes function, a new era ofeither find or generate genetic diversity, sometimes of Plant Genetics ofmolecular breeding was ushered in by the agriculturalthe solution required simply does not exist within the Unfold industry during the latter part of the 20th century. Forgenetic potential of a crop. This is where biotechnology the first time, breeders could make decisions based oncomes into play. This is necessary and powerful when laboratory data, rather than having to test all of theirvariation within the crops genetic portfolio will not materials under growing conditions.deliver the required characteristics or traits of interest.Molecular markers were developed which helpedPredictive Breeding: Computer Based. The latest predict whether a plant harbored a particular trait orevolution in breeding technologies is the move to characteristic that would be beneficial for the crop overpredictive breeding, basically Silicon Valley meets the long term. Use of molecular markers and DNA- Salinas Valley. This involves predicting the combined based data allowed for fewer and more promisingeffects of the genetic composition of a crop. This is the entries to be tested via phenotypic selection, accel- ultimate data-driven approach and allows breeders to erated the rate of innovation, and reduced the timemove from in-planta (phenotypic) through in-labora-required to introduce new varieties.tory (molecular) to now in-silico (predictive) breeding Both phenotypic and molecular breeding areapproaches. As the human population continues to predicated on the breeder having access to a sourceexpand and places immense pressures on global food of genetic variation that contains beneficial traits ofproduction, this evolution of breeding technologies interest. This variation could come from two sources:will be critical to allow scientists to meet the needs of a natural variants and mutagenesis.world facing extreme conditions. SW 96/ SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY 2023'