What is the term for the practice of selecting plants with desirable traits for breeding?

The practice of selecting plants with desirable traits for breeding is referred to as selective breeding. This method involves choosing parent plants that exhibit specific, favorable characteristics, such as increased yield, disease resistance, or better flavor. By mating these selected plants, breeders can produce offspring that carry these desirable traits into the next generation.

Selective breeding allows for the gradual improvement of plant varieties over time, making it a fundamental technique in agriculture and horticulture. It relies on the natural genetic variation present within a species, enhancing traits that are beneficial for cultivation or consumption. Techniques like hybridization and genetic engineering, while also useful in plant breeding, involve different processes. Hybridization focuses on crossing different species or varieties to create hybrids, while genetic engineering involves altering an organism’s DNA directly in a lab setting. Cultivar selection refers to the choice of cultivated varieties for planting but does not encompass the breeding process itself.