Crop Improvement

Each crop is, in fact, an adaptation from wild type to a cultivated type. Wild types or wild species of each crop can be traced to their natural habitat where such species are grown naturally without human interference.

Even cultivated species of a crop exhibit greatly varying climatic adaptations. Within a given species of crop, there may be number of varieties - exhibiting specific distinguishing characters. All their characters - including the yield potentiality, resistance to pests and diseases, quality are governed by their genetic make up. The main objective of crop improvement is to change their genetic content in order to improve the crops in respect of yield, quality, resistance, etc.,