A book on modern plant breeding methods including the history of their development, current status and latest refinements especially through the application of biotechnology, describes breeding plans along with their genetic bases for each of the three distinct categories of crop plants i.e. self-pollinated, cross-pollinated and asexually propagated crops. Alternate approaches for the exploitation of heterosis and population improvement have been elaborated with the help of schematic diagrams. A detailed account of biometrical procedures in molecular biology for genetical analysis and improvement of quantitative traits through QTL-mapping along with a complete account of current status and future prospects of production of transgenic plants are the main attractions of this book.