Molecular Marker-Assisted Selection in Plant Breeding

Marker-assisted selection (MAS)Marker-assisted selection (MAS) is an advanced approach in crop and animal breeding that incorporates molecular markersMolecular markers to expedite the selection of desirable traits. This technique, widely used since its inception, has revolutionized the traditional breeding methods by giving an opportunity for breeders to identify and select individuals with desired traits accurately and rapidly. MAS has effectively contributed to the improvement of various economically important crops and livestock species by increasing the accuracy and efficiency of selection processes. This abstract provides an overview of the principles and applications of marker-assisted selectionMarker-assisted selection (MAS), highlighting its benefits, limitations, and future prospects. The application of MAS has significantly enhanced the efficiency of breeding programsBreeding programs. Traditional breeding methods require several generations of progeny testing and phenotypic evaluations, which are time-consuming, costly, and subject to environmental influences. This chapter aims at discussing of recent advances and understandings about the application of MAS in plant breedingPlant breeding.