Cabbage: Breeding and Genomics

Abstract

Plant breeding has had a tremendous influence on crop improvement. However, due to dwindling germplasm resources, identification of variability for incorporation into new cultivars is becoming more difficult. Therefore, there has been recourse to alternative approaches including mutagenesis, tissue culture and genetic transformation to aid breeding programs. Development and application of molecular markers derived from genes, commonly called genic markers or sometimes functional markers, is gaining momentum in plant genetics and breeding. Presently, marker discovery, genotyping and molecular breeding practices would be routine in crop improvement in many crop species including Brassica. Molecular markers are known as particularly effective and reliable tools for the characterization of genome architectures and the investigation of gene polymorphisms in cabbage also. Cabbage breeding, genomics and their applications have been discussed in detailed in this review article.