Aims and objectives in breeding cereal varieties

Cereal breeding in NW Europe has historically been directed at raising grain yields, increasing resistance to fungal attack and improving technological characteristics, e.g. for breadmaking or malting. The objectives of more recent work have included minimizing production of unwanted waste straw, increasing the efficiency of utilization of applied fertilizer nitrogen, reducing the plants’ sensitivity to cold and to high soil acidity, and increasing resistance to aphids and other pests.