Methods and Applications of Doubled Haploid Technology in Wheat Breeding - A Technical Manual

Abstract

The purpose of this manual is to be a useful guide for wheat breeders, geneticists, biotechnologists, students, and technicians. It will also serve as a reference for the wheat breeding programs of ICARDA’s National Agricultural Research System partners seeking to establish their own doubled haploid labs and facilities. In vitro haploid production followed by chromosome doubling greatly enhances the production of completely homozygous wheat lines in a single generation and increases the precision and efficiency of the selection process in wheat breeding. It enables the detecting of linkage and gene interactions, estimating of genetic variance and the number of genes for quantitative characteristics, and producing genetic translocations, substitutions, and chromosome addition lines, and also facilitates genetic transformation and mutation studies. Wheat cultivars developed using doubled haploid systems have been released for cultivation in both developed and developing countries. In this manual, the origin and production of haploids, detailed procedures of anther culture for doubled haploid wheat production, and its application for wheat breeding at ICARDA are summarized clearly and systematically. The procedures are based on international standards, and have been refined through many years of use and experience at ICARDA.