The book Introductory Principles of Plant Breeding is written primarily to introduce the subject to undergraduate students of Indian agricultural universities. In its revised version following the Dean's Committee recommendations, which allows 5% variation for the universities to alter the suggested course outline. The book covers the subject matter in a logical and sequential manner.
Elementary principles of genetics, which are the foundation stone of plant breeding, are explained in precise terms. There are excellent discussions of breeding methods and the factors, which determine the choice of breeding methods for a particular crop. The role of special breeding methods such as mutation breeding, heterosis breeding and polyploidy breeding is adequately explained. The chapter on breeding for disease and insect resistance deals with this important subject in a lucid manner. A new chapter on Innovative Methods in Plant Breeding has been added. The achievements of plant breeding in important crops, release of varieties, and seed production have been updated in the last two chapters. Plant breeding is a dynamic subject and thus the book abounds in recent examples of plant breeding work done in India. The varietal names of Indian crops used in the book would be familiar to the students of Indian universities. Plant breeding is dynamic subject and activities of plant breeders keep adding new methods and varieties of different crops. Thus a thorough revision and updation was undertaken.
R. C. CHAUDHARY, M.Sc. (Ag.) Bot., Ph.D. Formerly Associate Professor, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology Pantnagar, Uttarakhand Formerly Professor of Plant Breeding and Regional Director, Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar Formerly Rice Specialist, The World Bank, Nigeria Formerly Plant Breeder & INGER Global Coordinator, IRRI, Philippines Formerly Chief Technical Advisor, and Project Manager, FAO, Rome, Italy Currently Chairman, PRDF, Gorakhpur, U.P.
