Vijay Meena

By Subhash Chand, Om Prakash Patidar, Rajat Chaudhary, Ranjit Saroj, Kailash Chandra, Vijay Kamal Meena, Omkar M. Limbalkar, Manoj Kumar Patel, Priya P. Pardeshi and Prashant Vasisth

Brassica spp., commonly known as rapeseed-mustard, plays a significant role in the Indian economy by providing edible oils, vegetables, condiments and animal feed. Globally, India holds second and third position in rapeseed-mustard area under cultivation and production, respectively. However, anthropogenically accelerated climate change thwarts yield potential of rapeseed-mustard by employing abiotic (drought, flood, temperature variation and salinity) and biotic (disease and insects) stresses. Various approaches such as molecular breeding, pre-breeding, −omics and biotechnological interventions have been used to develop varieties for improved yield and oil quality, climate resilient and resistance or tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. In this context, this chapter highlighted the different cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) sources and their potential use for hybrid development. At the end, this chapter also enlisted salient achievement by the government and non-government institutes and briefly described the future perspective for improvement of rapeseed-mustard in India.

Part of the book: Brassica Breeding and Biotechnology

By Vijay Kamal Meena, Harsh Vardhan Singh Shekhawat, Subhash Chand, Kapil Choudhary, Jitendra Kumar Sharma and Lekha Lekha

Molecular markers are powerful tools that have revolutionized plant improvement strategies by allowing breeders to select plants with desirable traits at an early stage. These markers are specific DNA sequences that can be used to identify genes responsible for important plant traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and yield potential. Advances in molecular marker technology have greatly improved their efficiency and accuracy, making them an essential tool in plant breeding programs. One such advance is the development of high-throughput sequencing technologies, which allow for the rapid and cost-effective identification of large numbers of molecular markers. Additionally, new marker systems such as SNPs have been developed, which offer a high level of accuracy and reproducibility. The use of molecular markers in plant breeding has several advantages over traditional breeding methods. For instance, markers can be used to identify desirable traits that are not easily observable, or to select plants with multiple desirable traits at once. This has led to the development of new and improved crop varieties that are more resistant to diseases, better adapted to changing environmental conditions, and have higher yields. In conclusion, the continued development of molecular marker technology is crucial for the advancement of plant improvement strategies.

Part of the book: Recent Trends in Plant Breeding and Genetic Improvement