Application and Advantage of Marker Assisted Selection in Plant Breeding: Review

Abstract

Conventional and modern plant breeding methods play a significant role in crops genetic improvement for desirable traits. Conventional breeding relied entirely on morphological markers, and selecting plants with desirable traits required several generations and many years. Selecting economically important traits such as yield, quality, and stress tolerance is challenging due to their polygenic nature and the strong influence of environmental factors. This challenge has driven plant breeders to explore second- and third-generation breeding techniques, such as marker-assisted selection (MAS). The present article was reviewed with the aim of understanding the principles and applications of marker-assisted selection in plant breeding. Various types of markers and their functions were articulated effectively. Single nucleotide polymorphism markers are among the most recent and advanced markers in plant breeding. They are highly effective for identifying genomic regions linked to desirable traits, thus enabling breeding accuracy and efficiency. MAS is an essential tool in plant breeding activities, including crop improvement. The applications of MAS in selecting breeding lines/populations, recurrent selection, marker-assisted 
backcrossing, and gene pyramiding were briefly discussed in the article. MAS plays a key role in shortening the breeding cycle and facilitating rapid, cost effective selection. It significantly contributes to increasing genetic gain in desired traits compared to conventional breeding methods.