Definitions for "Mass selection"
A breeding method wherein a large number of plants having the desirable traits are harvested individually from a standing crop. The seeds from all selections are then bulked. From the bulk, a seed sample is taken and used to plant a population from which desirable plants are selected at maturity. The procedure is repeated for several cycles until the population becomes uniform and homogeneous. A variety developed by mass selection is fairly uniform and contains fewer genotypes than the original population.
The traditional method of directed selection, in which seed is collected from those individuals in a population that show one or more desirable traits and then used for planting the next crop.
Selection of individual plants from a population. Mass selection may be positive and negative selection. Seeds from mass selection form the next generation.