Adaptation of medicinal and aromatic plants to contemporary quality and technological demands by breeding: aims, methods and trends

Adaptation of medicinal and aromatic plants to contemporary quality and technological demands by breeding: aims, methods and trends. Breeding has become one of the most important key factors for improvement of the MAP branch because the genotypes can be adapted to the special demands of the players in the production chain and contribute to high quality, profitable and sustainable production. The exploitation of the genetic potential of MAP is still in its initial stage. Conventional breeding methods prevail due to the high natural variability available. Nevertheless, the use of biotechnological tools and research on genes controlling the secondary metabolite formation and their transmission are in progress. Success has been achieved in the development of expensesaving selection procedures.