New frontiers in chromosome elimination-mediated doubled haploidy breeding: Focus on speed breeding in bread and durum wheat

Abstract

Chromosome elimination – a dynamic process occurring during wide hybridization in wheat when crossed with various Gramineae genera, has opened new horizon in accelerating the genetic upgradation endeavours in wheat with enhanced precision and efficiency. Since the invention of Hordeum bulbosum approach, some other potential systems leading to the chromosome elimination viz., wheat x Zea mays and wheat x Imperata cylindrica have further enhanced the opportunities to increase the doubled haploid production efficiency in wheat. Imperata cylindrica - mediated chromosome elimination approach- an innovation of this Lab has recorded a striking success not only in bread wheat, but also succeeded in inducing haploids appreciably in wheat x rye and triticale x wheat derivatives as well as in the durum wheat. GISH- a novel tool of the molecular cytogenetic approach was used to identify, detect and track the elimination of the I. cylindrica chromosomes in wheat x I. cylindrica hybrids at different stages of the mitotic division which enunciated quick elimination of the chromosomes in the first division and attributed to higher recovery of the haploid embryos. The out come of the improved technique has been the release of a doubled haploid wheat variety Him Pratham. The innovative protocols developed can enhance the DH production efficiency in wheat and accelerate improvement.