| Abstract: | SUMMARY This article highlights the historical developments in genetics since the rediscovery of Mendelian laws of heredity, decade-by-decade, that have contributed to increases in food production. Two phases of plant breeding-evolutionary and evaluation-are briefly discussed. Scientific breakthroughs will continue to advance plant breeding in the coming decades. Genes identified through functional genomics should be useful in crop improvement. Plant breeding has a bright future. More plant breeders need to be equipped with the knowledge and training to utilize new advances in molecular biology. |
