An economic assessment of the value of molecular markers in plant breeding programs

The development of molecular markers allows plant breeders to identify desirable traits by analysing DNA rather than undertaking field trials or laboratory tests. This capacity provides a potential for a significant changes to occur within plant breeding programs. However, the value of marker-assisted selection varies with the trait assessed, the type of marker and the stage in the breeding program at which it is applied. In order to provide plant breeders with a basis for assessing the role of marker-assisted selection, the issues of which markers to apply and when to apply are analysed.