# Describe how selective breeding could be used to produce a new variety of wheat plant that has a higher grain yield.

> Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Biology (4BI1) — 5.1 Food production · Describe · 4 marks

> Wheat is one of the world's most important food crops. Farmers have used selective breeding for thousands of years to improve the characteristics of crop plants.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Identify/select parent plants with the highest grain yield (from the existing population)
2. Cross-breed / breed these selected plants together
3. Select offspring with the highest grain yield from the next generation
4. Repeat the process over many generations (to increase the frequency of the desired characteristic)

## Key terms

- [selective breeding](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/selective-breeding)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Biology (4BI1)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
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