Speeding the breeding wheat, triticale, barley: Offseason nurseries

Abstract

In a world of relentless population growth, shrinking arable land resources per capita and an ever present need for more and better food for the impoverished, there is a tremendous task and responsibility for scientists, educators, administrators and politicians to produce and promote the adoption of agricultural technologies which will benefit mankind. The cereal crops have much to offer towards the provision of more and better foods for the developing countries. Asia, Africa and Latin America produce more than 40 per cent of the world's wheat, maize and barley grains. Larger cereal yields are obtainable, which means more food, if the higher productive varieties of these crops and the agronomic components of improved production technology are adopted. The creation by plant breeders of high yielding varieties combining disease resistance with higher yield potential across different climates represents a major achievement contributing to both greater food production and stability of production. Many techniques are available to plant breeders to assist them in developing a new variety, which is an improvement over those currently grown. One of these procedures in the overall breeding system is the utilization of an offseason nursery.