Print This PagePlant Breeding Basics
Every product you see on the produce aisle has benefited from plant breeding in one way or another. It's an age-old practice that began at the same time as farming. Without understanding the science behind it, early farmers saved the seed from the best portion of their crop each season. Over the years they selected the traits that they liked the best, transforming and domesticating the crops they grew.
Today, we know how traits are passed down from one generation to another, and are better able to add new and beneficial qualities to plants. Still, it is a very labor-intensive process. Plant breeders make thousands of pollinations, or crosses, each year trying to discover the best combination of traits. These thousands of plants are then tested, and the best ones are selected for more evaluation. This process continues for up to 10 years, or longer, until the best variety is discovered.
Seminis has 78 plant breeders and 112 breeding programs that continually improve and refine existing vegetable and fruit varieties.
