Bioscience Evidence 2024, Vol.14, No.5, 195-205 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/be 201 Figure 3 Percentage of Hybrid vigor for different traits in commercial wheat hybrids over the years (Adapted from Prey et al., 2019) Image caption: Hybrid vigor was calculated based on marginal means for each year and nitrogen fertilizer level combination (n=8). Negative values indicate poorer performance of the hybrid compared to the parent, while positive values indicate superior hybrid traits compared to the parent. The dashed lines represent 0%, ±5%, and ±10% hybrid vigor values (Adapted from Prey et al., 2019) 6.2 Developing disease-resistant hybrids Hybrid wheat plays a crucial role in developing disease-resistant varieties. The genetic variability introduced through hybridization can improve resistance to a wide range of pests and pathogens. For example, pentaploid wheat hybrids, which are developed through interspecific hybridization, have shown potential in enhancing disease resistance and abiotic tolerance (Padmanaban et al., 2017). Moreover, the introgression of resistance genes from wild relatives into hybrid wheat has been a successful strategy to combat new and emerging diseases, thereby ensuring crop resilience and sustainability (Wulff and Moscou, 2014). 6.3 Economic viability of hybrid wheat The economic viability of hybrid wheat adoption involves a careful analysis of costs and benefits. While hybrid wheat can offer higher yields and better stress resistance, the initial costs associated with hybrid seed production and purchase can be higher. However, studies have shown that hybrid wheat can lead to significant yield increases, which can offset the higher seed costs. For instance, hybrid wheat cultivars in Europe have demonstrated a yield advantage of 5.5% over line cultivars, which can contribute to higher profitability for farmers (Prey et al., 2019). Additionally, the adoption of heat-tolerant hybrid maize in Nepal has shown that hybrids can increase yields and income, suggesting similar economic benefits for hybrid wheat in stress-prone environments (Kulkarni et al., 2023).
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