Heterosis in crop improvement

• DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16488
• Publication Date: 2023-11-17T08:14:56Z
• Authors: Jefferson Paril; Jochen Reif; Alexandre Fournie...; Mohammad Pourkhei...
• Keywords: Plant Breeding; Hybrid seed

SUMMARY Heterosis, also known as hybrid vigor, is the phenomenon wherein a progeny exhibits superior traits relative to one or both parents. In terms of crop breeding, this usually refers yield advantage F 1 hybrids over inbred The development high‐yielding cultivars across wider range crops key meeting future food demands. However, conventional breeding strategies are proving be exceptionally challenging apply commercially in many self‐pollinating crops, particularly wheat and barley. Currently these performance line does not outweigh cost seed production. Here, we review genetic basis heterosis, discuss challenges propose strategy recruit multiple heterosis‐associated genes develop lines with improved agronomic characteristics. This leverages modern engineering tools synthesize supergenes by fusing heterotic alleles loci. We outline plan assess feasibility approach improve using barley ( Hordeum vulgare ) model species, few genes. proposed method can applied all for which gene combinations identified.