Tree Breeding and Improvement Theory and Technology

Book excerpt: Tree Breeding and lmprovement is gaining significant attention and attraction across the country as a scientific tool to enhance the productivity and wood quality besides facilitating conservation of Forest Genetic Resources. The science of Tree Breeding is comparatively young but extended greater scope in the recent past in operational plantation development programme. The Tree Breeding and lmprovement has been incorporated as a subject in Under Graduate as well as Post graduate degree programme in Forestry offered at various State Agricultural Universities of the country. The existing text books on Tree Breeding are very limited and the practical aspects of tree breeding have not been evidenced in most books. The students and the tree breeding scientists require a comprehensive text book incorporating all theoretical and practical aspects of tree breeding. Accordingly the current book entitled “TREE BREEDING AND IMPROVEMENT - THEORY AND TECHNlQUES” has been designed with 18 chapters. The basic and fundamental aspects of tree breeding have been presented in chapter 1. The chapters 2 and 3 elaborate the Center’s of origin and pollination mechanism of trees. The theoretical and practical aspects of tree breeding methods, hybrid development, genetic tests and their biometric analysis have been presented with suitable field level examples from chapter 4 to 9. Incorporation of Seed orchard, clonal forestry, Exotic Forestry and Forest Biotechnology with -the-state-of-art- recent development will find greater utility by the students and researchers. Above all, the chapters on Varietal Developmental Process, Variety Registration and Organizations involved in tree breeding will have profound utility. ln a holistic perspective, the information furnished in the book will act as a great piece of information to the graduating scholars to understand theoretical and practical aspects of tree breeding towards satisfying their academic needs besides applying them in tree breeding research. For the scientists and teaching faculties, the book will act as a ready reckoner not only for reference but also to apply them in all field level applications.