Zhengqi Ma¹ , 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
Author    Correspondence author
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

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.

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)

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.

Wide hybridization; Wheat genetic improvement; Hybrid breeding; Genome-wide association studies (GWAS); Genetic diversity