Bioscience Evidence 2024, Vol.14, No.5, 195-205 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/be 195 Review Article Open Access Advancements in Wheat Hybridization: Overcoming Biological Barriers Feng Huang , Xiaoyu Du, Shaokui Zou, Lina Wang, Yulin Han Zhoukou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhoukou, 466001, China Corresponding email: huangfeng0714@163.com Bioscience Evidence, 2024, Vol.14, No.5 doi: 10.5376/be.2024.14.0021 Received: 22 Jul., 2024 Accepted: 27 Aug., 2024 Published: 08 Sep., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Huang et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Huang F., Du X.Y., Zou S.K., Wang L., and Han Y.L., 2024, Advancements in wheat hybridization: overcoming biological barriers, Bioscience Evidence, 14(5): 195-205 (doi: 10.5376/be.2024.14.0021) Abstract Wheat hybrid breeding is a key approach to improving global wheat productivity and ensuring food security. However, reproductive barriers between different wheat species, difficulties in chromosome pairing, and sterility issues in hybrid seed production have limited the widespread adoption of hybrid wheat varieties. To overcome these biological barriers, scientists have developed various advanced technologies and methods, facilitating progress in wheat hybrid breeding. This study reviews the latest technological advancements in overcoming biological barriers in wheat hybrid breeding, focusing on the application of male sterility systems, embryo rescue techniques, and gene editing. It also analyzes the progress in genomic and molecular tools. The research finds that male sterility systems, embryo rescue techniques, and gene editing technologies have successfully addressed some of the biological barriers in wheat hybrid breeding. Successful cases of hybrid wheat demonstrate that these technologies not only improve hybridization success rates but also enhance crop disease resistance and yield potential. Additionally, genomic tools have significantly accelerated the hybrid breeding process and optimized breeding efficiency. Overcoming biological barriers not only improves the efficiency of hybrid wheat breeding but also aids in the development of hybrid varieties with higher yields and enhanced disease resistance under adverse environmental conditions. This is of great significance for ensuring global food security. Keywords Wheat; Hybrid breeding; Reproductive barriers; Gene editing; Male sterility syste 1 Introduction Wheat is a staple crop that plays a crucial role in global food security. However, the increasing demand for wheat, coupled with the challenges posed by climate change, evolving pathogens, and pests, necessitates innovative approaches to enhance wheat production. One promising avenue is wheat hybridization, which has the potential to significantly improve yield and stress resistance. Wheat hybridization involves the crossing of different wheat varieties to combine desirable traits from both parents. Traditional breeding methods, such as direct hybridization and backcrossing, have been employed to introduce traits like disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, and improved grain yield into wheat varieties (Rauf et al., 2015; Mondal et al., 2016). However, these methods are often time-consuming and limited by the complexities of screening and selecting for multiple desirable traits simultaneously (Mondal et al., 2016). Recent advancements in genomic technologies, such as high-throughput phenotyping, genome sequencing, and genomic selection, offer new opportunities to accelerate the breeding process and enhance the genetic gains in wheat (Zhao et al., 2015; Mondal et al., 2016; Thudi et al., 2020). Hybrid wheat has the potential to deliver substantial improvements in yield and stress resistance. The exploitation of hybrid vigor, or heterosis, can result in higher grain yields and greater resilience to environmental stresses compared to pure-line varieties (Zhao et al., 2015; Alotaibi et al., 2020). For instance, the development of high-yielding heterotic patterns through genomic prediction and selection has shown promise in boosting wheat yields and stability (Zhao et al., 2015). Additionally, hybrid wheat can incorporate traits that enhance tolerance to abiotic stresses, such as drought and heat, as well as resistance to biotic stresses, including diseases and pests. Despite the potential benefits, several biological barriers impede the successful development of hybrid wheat. One major challenge is the self-pollinating nature of wheat, which complicates the production of hybrid seeds. Techniques such as male sterility and modifications in floral architecture are being explored to facilitate outcrossing and improve hybrid seed production (Whitford et al., 2013; Alotaibi et al., 2020). Moreover, the
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