FACULTY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES

AND ALLIED INDUSTRIES

DR. SUHEL MEHANDI

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
GENETICS & PLANT BREEDING
GENETICS
GPB 321, CROP IMPROVEMENT II (RABI CROPS)
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 Method of Plant Breeding in Self Pollinated Plants

Pedigree Methods
Mass selection and pure line selection cannot be applied to segregating population. Eg F2, F3 etc.
The method is generally used for handling segregation generation may be grouped into three
categories.
i) Pedigree Method
ii) Bulk Method
iii) Back Cross Method
The objectives of all these methods are to develop pure line varieties. In pedigree method,
individual plants are selected from F2 and the subsequent generation and their progenies are
tested. During the entire operation, a record of the entire parent’s offspring relationship is kept, is
known as pedigree record. The selection of individual plant is continued till the progenies show
no segregation. At this stage, selection is done among the progenies, because there would be no
genetic variation within progenies.
Pedigree Record: In Pedigree method, a detailed record of the relationship between the selected
plants and their progenies is maintained as a result of this each progeny in every generation can
be traced back to the F2 plant from which it originated, such record is known as pedigree record
or pedigree. The pedigree may be defined as a description of the ancestors of an individual and it
generally goes back to some distant ancestors. Thus, it describes the parents grandparents, great
grandparents so on of an individual. Maintenance of Pedigree Record: Pedigree record may be
kept in several ways, but it should be simple and accurate. Generally, each cross is given a
number. The first two digits of this number refer to the year in which the cross was made, and the
remaining digits denote the serial number of the cross in that year. For example, the number 7911,
denotes the cross number 11 of the year 79.
In the segregating generation one of the two systems of designation may be followed.
I) System: In this system, the individual plant progenies in each generation are assigned row
number, corresponding to their location in the plot. In addition each progeny in F4 and the
subsequent generation is assigned the row number of the progeny in the preveious generation
from which it was derived.
 Generation Number Description F3 7911-7 Progeny in the 7 th row in the F3 plot. F4
7911-7-4 Progeny in the 4 th row in the F4 plot, selected from the progeny in the 7 th row of the
F3 plot. F5 7911-4-14 Progeny in the 14 th row in the F5 plot selected from the progeny in the 4
th row of the F4 plot. F6 7911-14-3 Progeny in the 3 rd row in the F6 plot selected from the
progeny in the 14 th row of the F5 plot. Thus each progeny can be traced back to the F3 progeny
or F2 plants, from which it originated. But for determining the pedigree of a progeny the breeder
has to consult the records of the previous year.

II) System-II: In this system, in each generation the selected plants are assigned serial numbers
within individual progenies. Each progeny or selected plant bear the serial number of all the
plants in the previous generation, related to it by direct descent. Thus, the plants selected in F2 are
given serial numbers of their parents ( F2 plants). The plants selected from a progeny in F3 are
given the number of that progeny and in each generation the selected plant also given a serial
number.

Generation Number Description F3 7911-7 Progeny obtained from plant number 7

selected in F2 F4 7911-7-4 Progeny from plant No.4 selected from F3 progeny , derived from the
plant No.7 selected in F2 F5 7911-7-4-2 Progeny from plant No.2 selected from the F4 progeny
derived from plant no.4 , selected from the F3 progeny, obtained from the plant No.7 selected in
F2. F6 7911-7-4-2-8 Progeny from plant No 8, selected from the F5 progeny, derived from the
plant N0.2 selected from the F4 progeny of the plant No.4 selected from F3 progeny of the Plant
No.7 selected in F2. In this system, the pedigree of a progeny is immediately known and one done
not have to refer to the previous year record. But there are greater chances of error, since more
number are to be recorded. In both the systems, the progenies are assigned a different serial
number, when they become homozygous and are included in preliminary yield trials. This number
is given to those homozygous lines that are included in preliminary yield trials.

For keeping a pedigree records following point are important.

1) Only important characteristics should be recorded.

2) Only the promising should be included in the record. Poor progenies may be simply marked
discard.
3) The pedigree record must be accurate.
Application of Pedigree Method:
1) Selection of desirable plants from the segregating population in self- pollinated crops.
2) This method is commonly used to correct some specific weaknesses of an established variety
(Combination breeding).
3) It is also used in the selection of new superior recombinant type’s i.e Transgressive breeding.
4) This method is suitable for improving specific characteristics such as disease resistant, plant
height, maturity etc.

Procedure of Pedigree Method Hybridization: The selection of parents to be used in a cross is

the most important step in a breeding programme based on hybridization. The selected parents are
crossed to produce a simple or a complex cross.

F1 Generation: F1 seeds are space planted so that each F1 plant produces the maximum F2 seed.
Generally, 15- 30 F1 plants should produce enough seed for a good F2 population size.

F2 Generation: In F2, 2000-10000 plants are space planted to facilitate selection. About 100-500
plants are selected and their seeds are harvested separately.

F3 Generation: Individual plant progenies are space planted; each progeny should have about 30
or more plants. Individual plants with desirable characteristics are selected from superior progeny.
The number of plants selected in F3 should be preferably less than the number of F3 progenies. If
the number of superior progenies is small the whole cross may be rejected.

F4 Generation: Individual plant progenies are space planted; again desirable plants are slected
mainly from superior progenies. The no of plants selected in F4 is generally less than that of the
F4 progenies.

F5 Generation: Individual plant progenies are planted according to the recommended

commercial seed rate. Often three or more rows are grown for each progeny to facilitate
comparison among progenies. The number of progenies must be reduced to manage the size in
preliminary yield trials which is usually 25- 100 progenies.

F6 Generation: Individual plant progenies are planted in multi row plot and evaluated visually.
Progenies are harvested in bulk since they would have become almost homozygous. The
progenies which are reasonably homozygous and have enough seed may be planted in a
preliminary yield trial and inferior progenies are eliminated.

F7 Generation: Preliminary yield trials with three or more replications are conducted to identify
few superior lines. The progenies are evaluated for plant height, lodging and disease resistance,
maturity, etc. Standard commercial varieties must be included as check for comparison. Two to
five outstanding lines if found superior to check would be advanced to the coordinated yield
trials.

F8 – F10 Generation: The superior lines are tested in replicated yield trials at several locations
for desirable characters. During these trial lines are evaluated for yield, disease resistance,
maturity, etc. a line that is superior to the best commercial variety for yield and other
characteristics would be released as a new variety.

F11 Generation: In F11 generation released var. is multiplies for distribution to the farmers. The
breeder is responsible to supply the breeder seed to the N.S.C for production of foundation seed.

Merits of Pedigree Method:

1) This method gives maximum opportunity for breeder to use his skill and judgement for the
selection of plants.
2) It is well suited for the improvement of characters, which can be easily identified and simply
inherited.
3) Unpromising material is rejected in earlier generation hence only superior plants are promoted.
4) Homozygous is rapidly achieved.
5) Transgressive segregation for yield and other quantitative characters may be recovered.
6) It takes less time than the bulk method to develop a new variety.
Demerits of Pedigree Method:
1) This method is more time consuming, laborious and expensive for maintaining pedigree
record.
2) Extra attention is required for selection among and within a large number of progenies.
3) The success of this method is largely depends upon the skill of the breeder.
4) Selection for yield in F2 and F3 is ineffective. If care is not taken to retain a sufficient number
of progenies.

Achievements of Pedigree Method:

1) Wheat: NP-52, NP120, NP125, etc.
2) Rice: Jaya, and Padma (TN-1 X T-141)
3) Cotton: Laxmi (Gadag-1 X CC2)
4) Tomato: Pusa early dwarf (Meeruti X Red cloud)
5) Chickpea: T1, T2, T3, T5, Radhey.