Table of Contents

Domestication, Dispersion, Selection and Hybridization of Cultivated Plants.- Scientific Breeding in the 20th Century and Future Goals.- DNA and the Origin of Variation.- Mendelian Genetics and Linkage Maps.- Gene Expression and Selection of Major Genes.- Quantitative Genetics and Genomic Selection.- Genotype × Environment Interactions and Selection Environments.- Genome Evolution and Polyploidy.- Genetic Structure of Landraces.- Open-Pollinated and Synthetic Cultivars from Population Improvement.- Clonal Cultivars from Multistage Multitrait Selection.- Hybrid Cultivars from Inbreeding and Crossbreeding.- Inbred Line Cultivars and Mixtures from Hybridization and Inbreeding.- Genetic Basis of Heterosis and Inbred Line versus Hybrid Cultivars.- Use of Sexual Reproduction in Base Broadening and Introgression.- Mutation Breeding.- Genetically Modified Crops.- Durable Resistance to Pests and Diseases.- Way Ahead.

About the Author

John E. Bradshaw, PhD, spent his whole professional life as plant breeder and geneticist at the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI, formerly the Scottish Plant Breeding Station and now the James Hutton Institute). He completed his career as Head of Potato Breeding and Manager of the Potato Genetics Programme, funded by the Scottish Government. He has worked on barley, brassicas (kale, swedes and turnips) and potatoes; doing research on the applications of genetics to plant breeding methods as well as breeding two kale and three swede cultivars, and contributing to the breeding of four more swedes, a turnip, and 27 potatoes. His research covered methods of kale population improvement, the genetic basis of heterosis in swedes, the theory and practice of linkage and QTL analysis in tetraploid potatoes, and breeding for quantitative resistance to pests and diseases (clubroot in kale, powdery mildew in swedes, and late blight and cyst nematodes in potatoes). Dr. Bradshawis an Honorary Fellow of the Indian Potato Association and an Honorary Associate of the James Hutton Institute. He also holds Honorary Membership of EUCARPIA, European Association for Research on Plant Breeding (in recognition of his outstanding activity in the field of plant breeding science, and his considerable contributions to improving international contacts in plant breeding research). He was awarded the prestigious 2010 British Potato Industry Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to potato research and knowledge transfer. He has published 93 refereed papers in peer reviewed journals, 53 other articles and 10 book chapters. He has also edited one and co-edited two books including Root and Tuber Crops (Book 7 of the Handbook of Plant Breeding Series) with Springer.