Pollination and fertilization

Ever since growers fi rst selected seed for their next crop, they have infl uenced the genetic make-up and potential of succeeding crops. A basic understanding of plant breeding principles is useful if horticulturists are to understand the potential and limits of what plant cultivars can achieve, and so that they can make realistic requests to the plant breeder for improved cultivars. Plant breeding now supplies a wide range of plant types to meet growers’ specifi c needs. The plant breeders’ skill relies on their knowledge of fl ower biology, cell biology and genetics. Desirable plant characters such as yield, fl ower colour and disease resistance are selected and incorporated by a variety of methods. This chapter will give a very basic background to the principles used by plant breeders (see also www.routledge.com/cw/adams on genetics and plant breeding).