Reproductive Biology and Plant Breeding: Biologie de la Reproduction et Amelioration des Plantes

Plant reproduction is a fundamental process in plant improvement. During every phase of breeding or seed production, geneticists and breeders use sexual and vegetative reproduction. Overcoming interspecific reproductive barriers, using gametogenesis deviations, inducing selfing or crossing and cloning, the most promising genotypes are permanent challenges for breeders. Furthermore, understanding the consequences of reproductive biology on the genetic structure of populations and on the organization of genetic variability is a basic key to genetic progress. Provided here is the most recent information on these topics of major interest from both the basic and applied points of view.