Open Access

REVIEW

Combining Traditional Breeding with Molecular Techniques: An Integrative Approach

Md. Nahid Hasan, Tasmina Islam Simi, Sk Shoaibur Rahaman, Md. Abdur Rahim^*

Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh

* Corresponding Author: Md. Abdur Rahim. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Plant Biodiversity (Cultivated and Wild Flora) and Its Utility in Plant Breeding)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2025, 94(8), 2313-2346. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2025.067633

Received 08 May 2025; Accepted 08 August 2025; Issue published 29 August 2025

Abstract

Molecular tools have drawn the attention of modern plant breeders for its great precision and superiority. As the global population is increasing gradually, food production should be enhanced to feed the growing population. Therefore, precise and fast breeding tools are becoming obvious. Moreover, climate change has become a critical issue in crop improvement. Advanced breeding methods are vital to combat the impact of climate change, including biotic and abiotic stresses. Major molecular techniques, such as ‘CRISPR-Cas’ mediated ‘genome editing’, ‘marker-assisted selection (MAS)’, ‘whole genome sequencing’, ‘RNAi’, transgenic approach, ‘high-throughput phenotyping (HTP)’, mutation breeding, have been proven superior over traditional breeding in terms of precision, efficiency, and speed in developing stress-resistant improved varieties. This review explores the potential and superiority of molecular breeding methods and highlights the gaps (time, cost, efficiency, etc.) in traditional breeding methods, where modern breeding programs, as mentioned, are effective. Furthermore, this review will focus on the necessity of key modern plant breeding techniques as a foundation for sustainable farming practices to address emerging environmental challenges, ensure food security, and improve the yield and quality of crops.

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Keywords

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material File

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