Updates on hybrid wheat work in Texas

Amir M.H Ibrahim1*, Anil Adhikari1, Stephen P. Baenziger2, Bhoja R. Basnet3, Jackie C. Rudd4, Betul Sade1, Jordanna Tadlock1, Brandon Gerrish1, Nithya Subramaniam1, Gigi Opeña1, Shuyu Liu4.

1**Department of Soil and Crop Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843.

2**Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 68583.

3**International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Mexico City, Mexico.

4**Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Amarillo, TX, 79106.

aibrahim@tamu.edu

Abstract

Hybrid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a promising technology aimed at increasing yield potential to meet future global food demand. However, for its commercial success, a cost-effective seed production system is essential. Our program focuses on chemical hybridization agents to induce female parent sterility and F1 seed production for research and breeding purposes. However, we have ongoing work on the cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) system with a focus on mapping and utilizing the fertility restoring genes (Rf genes) for cost-effective F1 seed production. We will also present the genetic control and genotype-by-environment interaction associated with the male and female floral traits and using the F2 yield as a proxy for the F1 hybrid performance, which offers a quick and efficient approximation of the F1 hybrid performance. In addition, genetic control of yield and its components, along with heterosis, general and specific combining ability and the concept of heterotic pools, will be discussed.

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Keywords: Hybrid wheat, Heterosis, General combining ability, Specific combining ability, Floral characteristics, Anther extrusion, Stigma exsertion, Stigma gape.

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