Breeding of crop ideotypes

Ideotype is a biological model combining morphological and physiological traits. Ideotype breeding is a method of breeding to enhance genetic yield potential (or any other end trait) by modifying individual traits that influence it, and where the breeding goal for each trait is specified. Ideotype breeding is a continuous process because ideotypes are developed to meet the changing needs. Plant breeders can complement traditional breeding methods with ideotype breeding to generate a better understanding on individual traits and to diversify the genetic variation for traits. Ideotype breeding also provides hypotheses on paths to increasing yield or other important end traits, and this approach is also expected to give greater quantity of grains or oil or other useful end product in a specific environment. In this chapter, maize, wheat, rice, common bean, chickpea, lentil, field pea, pigeon pea, mung bean, and urd bean ideotype breeding informations are described.