Mass Selection

MOLDOVA STATE UNIVERSITY
Department of Biology and Pedology
REPORT
Mass Selection
Student: Negruta Adelina

Group: B11
Teacher: Tulei Angela
Chisinau 2019
Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Meaning of Mass Selection
3. Features of Mass Selection
4. Types of Mass Selection
5. Procedure of Mass Selection
6. Advantages and disadvantages of Mass Selection
7. Steps of Mass Selection
8. Conclusions
9. References
1. INTRODUCTION
It is known that all varieties of crops have some desirable characteristics that
make them good to be used. Nevertheless, each of this varieties is liable to possess
one or more undesirable features, which if eliminated, leads to a better quality and
higher yields.
Plant improvement is based on laws of heredity which make part from Genetics
Science. Selection is simple, but an important method of improving plants, consisting
of selection the outstanding types and discarding those that are undesirable.
Improvement by selection cannot be accomplished unless the plants prove to be
reasonably uniform for the qualities desired.
Two procedures are commonly used when new varieties are developed by the
process of selection. They are referred to as: Mass Selection and Individual Selection.
Mass Selection depends on the selection of plants according to their performance
and phenotype. This method is used to improve the overall population by positive or
negative mass selection. It is only applied to a limited degree in self-fertilizing plants
and is an effective method for the improvement of land strains.
2.Meaning of Mass Selection
Mass selection is one of the oldest methods of crop improvement. In this

method, individual plants are selected on the basis of phenotype from a
mixed population, their seeds are bulked and used to grow the next
generation. In other words, it is a method of breeding in which individual
plants are selected on the basis of phenotype from a mixed population, their
seeds are bulked and used to grow the next generation.
The oldest methods of crop improvement.

3.Type of Mass Selection:
a) Application.
Mass selection is applicable to both self and cross pollinated species. However, it is
more commonly used in the improvement of cross pollinated crops than in self-
pollinated species. This method is rarely used in vegetative propagated crops.
b) Genetic Constitution.
In self-pollinated crops, a mass selected variety is homozygous but heterogeneous,
because it is a mixture of several pure-lines. In cross pollinated crops, such varieties are
mixture of homo and heterozygotes and are heterogeneous, because they consist of
several homo and heterozygous genotypes.
c) Adaptation.
Mass selected varieties have wide adaptation and are more stable against environmental
changes due to heterogeneity which provides better buffering capacity. In other words,
mass selected varieties have broader genetic base than pure lines. They exhibit more or
less stable performance. However, adaptability is more in cross pollinated crops than
in self-pollinated species.
d) Selection.
Selection is effective in case of mass selected varieties of self-pollinated crops due to
presence of heritable varieties. However, further selection in the mass selected varieties
of cross pollinated crops may lead to inbreeding depression.
e) Quality.
A variety developed by mass selection is less uniform in the quality of seed than pure-
lines due to presence of heritable variation.
f) Resistance.
Mass selected varieties are less prone to the attack of new diseases due to genetic
diversity. In other words, they are more resistant or tolerant to new diseases.
4.Features of Mass Selection.
There are two types of mass selection:
1. Positive mass selection;
2. Negative mass selection.
1. Positive Mass Selection:

When desirable plants are selected from a mixed population and their seeds are mixed
together to grow further generation, it is referred to as positive mass selection. This
process is continued for several years. Generally, old varieties or land races are used as
the base material for mass selection. Selection of desirable plants or positive approach
is in common use in mass selection.
2. Negative Mass Selection:

When only undesirable off type of plants are removed from the field and rest are
allowed to grow further, it is known as negative mass selection. This is generally used
for varietal purification in seed production and certification programs. This helps in
maintaining high level of genetic purity in the varieties especially in the self-pollinated
species.
5. Procedure of Mass Selection.
Mass selection consists of various steps: selection of base population, selection of desirable plants
from base population and mixing their seeds to rise next generation, evaluation in field trials, and
releasing as a new variety.
The general procedure of mass selection is given below:

First Year:
An unimproved old variety or land race is used as a base population which is grown in a large plot.
Then individual plants (55-1000) are selected on the basis of phenotypic performance for characters
like height, maturity, disease resistance, productivity etc. The selected plants are harvested at maturity
and their seeds are mixed together to grow next generation. This process is repeated till desirable
results are achieved.
Second Year:
The crop is grown from the bulk seed of selected plants in a separate field using standard variety as a
check for comparison of performance. In other words, the material is evaluated in preliminary yield
trial. If mass selection is used for purification of old mixed variety, the same old variety can be used
as check for comparison.
Third to Sixth Year:

The performance of bulk is evaluated for yield and adaptation in main yield trials for 3 to 4 years
using standard check for comparison.
Seventh and Eighth Year:

The variety is released and named in seventh year and seed is multiplied. In the eighth year the seed
is ready for distribution.
6. Advantages and Disadvantages.
ADVANTAGES:
 This is a good method for improvement of old varieties and land races. This is
also used for the purification of improved varieties.
 Mass selected varieties are more stable in their performance than pure-lines. In
other words, they have more buffering capacity than pure-lines due to
heterogeneity.
 Mass selected varieties provide good protection against diseases.
 Mass selection is a simple and quick method of crop improvement. It takes about
8 years for the release of a new variety, whereas pure-line selection takes about
10 years in the development of new variety.
 This method is applicable to both self and cross pollinated species.
DISADVANTAGES:
 The selection is based on the phenotypic performance. The superior phenotype
is not always an indication of superior genotype. The real breeding value of
single plants can be judged from the performance of their progeny. Progeny test
is not carried out in mass selection.
 In cross pollinated species, there is no control on the pollination. The selected

plants are pollinated by both superior and inferior pollen parents. This results in
rapid deterioration of variety developed by mass selection.
 In cross pollinated crops, large numbers of plants have to be selected for bulking,
because small sample will lead to inbreeding depression.
 The produce of varieties developed by mass selection is less uniform man pure
lines. This is because mass selected varieties are mixture of several pure lines in
self-pollinated crops and consists of several genotypes in cross pollinated
species.
7. Steps of Mass Selection
 Selection of base population

 Selection of desirable plants from the base population
 Mixing their seeds to raise next generation
 Evaluation in field trials
 Releasing as a new variety
8. Conclusion
Mass Selection is based only on phenotypic performance and is used in self-pollinated

as well as cross pollinated crop.
This method of selection will only be effective for highly heritable traits. One shortage
of mass selection is the large influence that the environment has on the development,
phenotype, and performance of single plants. This can also be an advantage in that
varieties can be selected for local performance.
9. References:
1. Botany Library.com., Meaning and Theory of Plant Breeding
2. Wikipedia, Selection methods in plant breeding based on mode or

reproduction, September 2009.

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MOLDOVA STATE UNIVERSITY

Department of Biology and Pedology

Student: Negruta Adelina

Mass selection is one of the oldest methods of crop improvement. In this

The oldest methods of crop improvement.

2. Negative mass selection.

1. Positive Mass Selection:

2. Negative Mass Selection:

The general procedure of mass selection is given below:

Third to Sixth Year:

Seventh and Eighth Year:

 Mass selected varieties provide good protection against diseases.

 This method is applicable to both self and cross pollinated species.

 In cross pollinated species, there is no control on the pollination. The selected

 Selection of base population

Mass Selection is based only on phenotypic performance and is used in self-pollinated

1. Botany Library.com., Meaning and Theory of Plant Breeding

2. Wikipedia, Selection methods in plant breeding based on mode or

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