Breeding of strawberries variety "Old Black", which is of uncertain origin. This variety was created by pollination, not direct manipulation of the plant's genes. Molecular breeding is the application of molecular biology tools in a breeding program. Genetic engineering is typically defined as the introduction of non-native genes into an organism. An excellent example of transgenic modification is in the case of cold resistant strawberries. In one particular variety genes from the arctic flounder, a fish that lives in very cold water, were used to give plants resistance to cold. This modification works because of the genetics of the arctic flounder. It lives
Tree breeding Tree breeding Tree breeding is the application of genetic, reproductive biology and economics principles to the genetic improvement and management of forest trees. In contrast to the selective breeding of livestock, arable crops, and horticultural flowers over the last few centuries, the breeding of trees, with the exception of fruit trees, is a relatively recent occurrence. A typical forest tree breeding program starts with selection of superior phenotypes (plus trees) in a natural or planted forest. This application of mass selection improves the mean performance of the forest. Offspring is obtained from selected trees and grown in test plantations that