The application of genetic principles to the improvement of cultivated plants, with heavy dependence upon the related sciences of statistics, pathology, physiology, and biochemistry. The aim of plant breeding is to produce new and improved types of farm crops or decorative plants, to better serve the needs of the farmer, the processor, and the ultimate consumer. New varieties of cultivated plants can result only from genetic reorganization that gives rise to improvements over the existing varieties in particular characteristics or in combinations of characteristics. In consequence, plant breeding can be regarded as a branch of applied genetics, but it also makes use of the knowledge and techniques of many aspects of plant science, especially physiology and pathology. Related disciplines, like biochemistry and entomology, are also important, and the application of mathematical statistics in the design and analysis of experiments is essential.