Triticeae Genomics and Genetics, 2024, Vol.15, No.2, 100-110 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/tgg 100 Research Report Open Access The Significance of Wide Hybridization for Wheat Genetic Improvement ZhengqiMa 1, Renxiang Cai 1, 2 1 Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China 2 Zhejiang Agronomist College, Hangzhou, 310021, Zhejiang, China Corresponding author: rxcai@sina.com Triticeae Genomics and Genetics, 2024, Vol.15, No.2 doi: 10.5376/tgg.2024.15.0010 Received: 24 Feb., 2024 Accepted: 28 Mar., 2024 Published: 09 Apr., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Ma and Cai, 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: Ma Z.Q., and Cai R.X., 2024, The significance of wide hybridization for wheat genetic improvement, Triticeae Genomics and Genetics, 15(2): 100-110 (doi: 10.5376/tgg.2024.15.0010) Abstract Wide hybridization has emerged as a pivotal strategy for the genetic improvement of wheat, offering a means to introduce novel genetic variation and enhance key agronomic traits. This study explores the significance of wide hybridization in wheat breeding, highlighting its potential to improve grain quality, yield, and hybrid seed production. Studies have demonstrated that hybridization with wild relatives and underutilized varieties can significantly expand the genetic diversity of wheat, leading to improvements in grain hardness, gluten quality, and nutritional content. Additionally, the integration of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genomic selection has facilitated the identification of key genomic regions and candidate genes associated with important traits, thereby enhancing the efficiency of hybrid breeding programs. The development of hybrid wheat varieties through reciprocal recurrent genomic selection and the optimization of floral traits for better cross-pollination have shown promising results in increasing hybrid seed set and overall yield potential. This study underscores the transformative impact of wide hybridization on wheat genetic improvement and its critical role in meeting future food security challenges. Keywords Wide hybridization; Wheat genetic improvement; Hybrid breeding; Genome-wide association studies (GWAS); Genetic diversity 1 Introducion Wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) is a fundamental staple food crop globally, playing a crucial role in food security and agricultural economies. The continuous improvement of wheat yield and quality is essential to meet the demands of a growing global population and to address challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, and environmental sustainability (Pang et al., 2020; Li et al., 2021; Patil et al., 2023). Traditional breeding methods have significantly contributed to wheat improvement; however, the complex polyploid genome of wheat presents challenges for genetic research and precision breeding (Li et al., 2021; Bhalla et al., 2017). Recent advancements in genomic technologies, such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS), high-throughput genotyping, and genome editing, have opened new avenues for enhancing wheat traits (Bhalla et al., 2017; Pang et al., 2020; Li et al., 2021). Wide hybridization refers to the crossing of wheat with distant relatives or other species to introduce novel genetic variations that are not present within the primary gene pool of wheat. This technique is pivotal for incorporating beneficial traits such as disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, and yield improvement (Whitford et al., 2013). The process involves overcoming reproductive barriers and ensuring the stable integration of desirable traits into wheat cultivars. Wide hybridization has the potential to significantly enhance genetic diversity and provide new opportunities for wheat improvement, which are crucial for developing resilient and high-yielding wheat varieties (Whitford et al., 2013). The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the importance of wide hybridization in genetic improvement of wheat. The channels for genetic improvement of wheat and the challenges faced by traditional breeding methods are summarized. Broad hybridization is also defined and its importance in introducing new genetic variation is discussed. While studying the technological advances and methods that promote broad hybridization in wheat, an effective assessment of the impact of broad hybridization on wheat yield, quality and stress tolerance is made, and the future prospects and potential for utilizing broad hybridization in wheat breeding programs are identified
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