Varietal Improvement

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There are several varieties of rice available in the market. Similarly, there are many varieties of mangoes and brinjals. Each variety is unique in its colour, size, shape and taste. Thus, one type of plant has many varieties. A lot of research has gone into creating these varieties. They have been tailor-made to satisfy the different needs of man. Producing many varieties has not only brought about an improvement in the quality but also has brought about an increase in production. Let us study the production of wheat and rice in our country. The yield of wheat and rice which stood at 668 kg and 663 kg per hectare respectively in 1952 increased to 1851 and 1468 kg per hectare in eighties. The production has tripled in thirty years. This increase in food production has marked a turning point in Indian agriculture, which has led to Green Revolution in our country. The revolution is called green because it led to unprecedented greenery of crops everywhere. It is because of the green revolution that our country has become self sufficient in food production and a large stock of food grains has been created for use in the times of natural calamities like drought, floods and famine.

The various factors, which collectively led to the green revolution in our country, are:

• Introduction of high yielding varieties of Mexican wheat

• Proper irrigation

• Increased use of fertilizers, weedicides and pesticides

• More land under cultivation

• Improved soil practices and agricultural implements

Need For Varietal Improvement

Population grows in geometrical proportions but food grows in only arithmetical proportion. With the ever increasing demand on food grains, fodder, fibre, vegetables, fruit, sugar and oil, there is an urgent need to increase crop production, as our land resources are limited. Our natural resources (soil, water and weather) are being deteriorated and depleted. So there is an urgent need for improvement in crop plants. The variety developed should be superior to its predecessor.

The Reasons for Crop Improvement are:

Improved Yield

Here the aim is to increase crop production. High yielding crops should be developed for this purpose.

Better Quality

The public is aware and so it looks out for better quality crops. The quality would mean better size, colour, shape and taste. The health conscious public also wants better nutritive value in the food crop.

Biotic and Abiotic Resistance

Varieties that are biotic (diseases, insects and pests) and abiotic (drought, salinity, water logging, heat, cold, frost) resistant can be developed by an increase in crop production.

Early and Uniform Maturity

In certain long duration crops, early maturity can make the crop double or triple cropping system. This will reduce the cost of crop production. Along with early maturity if the crop also has the quality of uniform maturity it will make the harvesting process easy and reduce the loss of crop during harvesting.

Photo and Thermo Insensitivity

Crop plants are sensitive to light and temperature. The required exposure to sunlight and the right temperature determines the healthy growth of plants and ensures a good yield. Developing varieties insensitive to these factors will help in overcoming these constraints. Then these crops can be grown in areas, which might not have been ideally suited for the growth of these varieties. This ensures spread of new crops.

Desirable Agronomic Traits

Good height, high tillering and profuse branching are traits, desirable for fodder crops. Cereal crops should be short, for better productivity. Developing varieties with agronomic traits that are tailor-made will ensure higher yield.

Wider Adaptability

Developing varieties of wider adaptability will help stabilize crop production under unfavourable environmental conditions.