Plant Tissue Cult. 13(2) : 179-210, 2003 (December)

Review Paper

Wheat Improvement Facilitated by Novel Genetic Diversity and In vitro Technology

Abdul Mujeeb-Kazi

International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Apartado 6-641, Mexico. D.F. 06600, MEXICO

Key words: Genetic diversity, Wheat improvement, Wide crosses, In vitro technology, Genetic resources, Bread wheat

Abastract

Extensively utilized forms of wheat improvement are various conventional plant breeding protocols. These are executed without any embryo formation complexities, embryo rescue, or plantlet regeneration constraints. Such standard approaches have significantly contributed to global wheat production and will continue to do so. Ideas, however, have been expressed about the narrow genetic base in wheat. Hence, in order to widen the gene base, novel strategies have emerged that employ in vitro techniques which are crucial for assisting these novel genetic diversification programmes. In vitro techniques also contribute to research output efficiency for all bread wheats (Triticum aestivum: 2n = 6x = 42, AABBDD) and to a lesser degree for some durum wheat (T. turgidum: 2n = 4x = 28, AABB) cultivars. Elucidated here are outputs of an integrated research strategy that incorporates new genetic diversity in wheat linked with in vitro procedural involvement.

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