Unlocking the full reproductive potential for hybrid wheat breeding

在全球范围内，小麦作为自交自育作物种植，产量增长在过去几十年中停滞不前。这与水稻和玉米通过杂交育种和异花授粉实现的产量增长和产量稳定形成鲜明对比。小麦杂交种具有增产10-22%的潜力，但由于小麦的花结构和差的异交特性导致种子生产成本高，商业部署受到限制。该项目旨在通过提高小麦雌性对空气传播花粉的接受性来降低成本，这是全球实现杂交种商业化的主要瓶颈。小麦杂交种的更高和更稳定的产量将在气候不确定性和人口增长的情况下确保粮食安全。

Globally, wheat is cultivated as an inbred self-fertile crop with yield gains stagnating over the last decades. This contrasts with unabated yield gains and yield stability achieved for rice and corn through hybrid breeding and cross-pollination. Wheat hybrids hold potential for a 10-22% yield boost, but commercial deployment is restricted due to high seed production costs, a result of wheat’s floral architecture and poor outcrossing characteristics. This project aims to reduce costs by improving wheat’s female receptivity to airborne pollen, a major bottleneck to commercial realization of hybrids globally. Higher and more stable yields from wheat hybrids will ensure food security in the face of climate uncertainty and growing population.