Includes bibliographical references, glossary and index.

Introduction -- Reproduction in crop plants -- Plant genetic resources: origin, conservation and utilization -- Genetic basis and application of selection in self-pollinated crops -- Mendelian consequences of planned hybridization in self- pollinated crops -- Quantitative inheritance -- The analysis of genotype environment interactions -- Application of biometrical genetics in plant breeding -- Pedigree method -- Bulk population breeding method -- The single seed descent method -- Backcross method -- Fertility regulating mechanisms -- Genetic basis of heterosis -- Breeding for heterosis -- Genetic structure of cross-pollinated crops -- Population improvement in cross-pollinated crops -- Pollination improvement methods -- Synthetic and composite varieties -- Breeding of asexually propagated crops -- Breeding for resistance to diseases and insect pests -- Mutation breeding -- Polyploidy in plant breeding -- Tissue culture in crop improvement -- Molecular approaches to crop improvement -- Genetic transformation and production of transgenic plants --Biometry in relation to molecular genetics in plant breeding -- Field plot techniques in plant breeding -- Plant breeders, rights, release and multiplication of varieties.