Improvement of crop species has been a fundamental goal of mankind since the dawn of agriculture. The key to increasing agricultural productivity and improving other attributes has been plant breeding. The foundations of conventional breeding are the utilization of diversity, which occurs naturally in the form of land races and wild relatives, and the development of diverse selection and breeding techniques. Selection, which was the first strategy identified and is currently utilized by the majority of breeding programs, is the most fundamental aspect of plant breeding. There is a need to boost global food production in order to meet the rising demand of a growing population as a result of a growing human population and a changing environment, which have both heightened concerns about global food security. Conventional breeding methods are inadequate to supply this rising need. In the past few decades, numerous advancements in genetic engineering and molecular biology have led to the emergence of novel approaches that rely on phenotypic characterization. Now, the wide availability of molecular markers has facilitated the identification of variation sources and selection. Specifically, genomics played a crucial part in the revolution of plant breeding. Because genomics enabled the extended study of genotype and its relationship to phenotype for multigenic characteristics, allowing for a greater understanding of genotype and phenotype. In this overview, we will address conventional breeding methods and contemporary genomics techniques, and their function in crop improvement.

Wheat is highly self-pollinated crop and main staple food of the world. Yield is one of the main breeding objectives in the wheat crop. Plant breeders are focusing on the development of new lines with increased yield, resistant against biotic and abiotic factors and having more nutritional values. The goal of the current research was to identify acceptable crossings for further investigation by determining the type of gene action (genetic effects) and combining ability of parental genotypes for morphological features. This approach was used to evaluate three lines, namely Ujala-2016, Johar-2016, Galaxy-2013 and four testers’ viz. XJ22, XJ23, XJ24 and XJ25. Collected data were subjected to line × tester analysis. Among parents as lines genotype Johar-2016 found good general combiner for studied traits. While among testers XJ25 proved to be the best general combiner for studied traits. Similarly, cross combinations hybrid XJ25 × Galaxy-2013 performed best as specific combiner. It was noticed that SCA variance was greater than GCA variance for all factors studied in wheat except for grains/spike. The superior genotypes and crosses can be further tested in yield for development of improved wheat varieties.

Heterosis and combining ability were calculated for 13 different morphological, yield, and quality-related traits of 18 F1 Brassica napus hybrids developed through line × tester mating design using 6 lines and 3 testers along with their parents. Line × tester ANOVA revealed highly significant results among all characters except for primary branches per plant. ZM-R-2 (tester) was identified as a good general combiner for, days to 50% flowering, days to 50% siliqua formation, linolenic acid (%), number of secondary branches, siliquae per plant, and seeds per siliqua, while ZM-R-6 for 100-seed weight, protein, and oleic acid percentage. ZM-R-11 × ZM-R-2 was identified as a good specific combiner for days to flowering, 50% flowering, and 50% siliqua (-5.19**, -4.70**, -5.37**), while ZM-M-6 × ZM-R-2, ZN-M-9 × ZM-R-6, ZN-R-8 × ZM-R-6, Shiralee × ZM-R-2 were good specific combiners for seeds per siliqua, 100-seed weight, oil, and protein percentage, respectively. Highly significant and desired mid-parent heterosis was observed for ZM-R-7 × ZM-R-2 for different morphological and quality traits like linolenic acid content and Shiralee × ZM-R-2 for oil (24.87**) and protein content (19.27**). Positive mid parental heterosis for oleic acid (46.81**), linoleic acid, and seed yield plant-1 were observed in ZM-R-7 × ZM-R-10 and ZN-M-9 × ZM-R-10. These hybrids can be utilized as a source of genetic material for future breeding programs.

The lethal and widespread potato leaf roll virus (PLRV) is found in many potato farms. It not only leads to worldwide yield loss, but also to yield loss in Pakistan. The appearance of symptoms distinguishes both primary and secondary illnesses. Pathogen management methods follow pathogen detection systems. Furthermore, environmental factors contribute to the development of disease prediction models, which aid in the development of strategies to protect crops from viral infection. This article provides an overview of potato leaf roll virus damage, prospects and several management strategies to control it.