Exploitation of induced 2n-gametes for plant breeding

• Published in: Plant cell reports Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 215 - 223
• Main Authors: Younis, Adnan, Hwang, Yoon-Jung, Lim, Ki-Byung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01-02-2014; Springer Berlin Heidelberg; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Breeding; Cell Biology; cell division; Chromosomes, Plant - genetics; colchicine; Colchicine - pharmacology; crops; Crosses, Genetic; Cultivars; Developmental stages; Diploidy; Environment; Environmental factors; Exploitation; genes; Genetic diversity; genetic variation; Genome, Plant - genetics; germ cells; Germ Cells, Plant; heterozygosity; Hybridization, Genetic; Hybrids; interspecific hybridization; introgression; Life Sciences; mechanism of action; Meiosis; Mode of action; Nitrous oxide; Nitrous Oxide - pharmacology; oryzalin; Plant Biochemistry; Plant breeding; Plant populations; Plant Sciences; Plant species; Plants - drug effects; Plants - genetics; Pollen; Pollen - drug effects; Pollen - genetics; pollen germination; polyploidy; Review; Trifluralin; Trifluralin - pharmacology; SDR; Polyploidy; Nitrous oxide; Colchicine; Gene isolation; FDR
• ISSN: 0721-7714; 1432-203X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00299-013-1534-y

KEY MESSAGE : Efficient induction of unreduced gamete in different crops and its genetic consequences will open new avenues for plant breeding. Unreduced gamete formation derived via abnormal meiotic cell division is an important approach to polyploidy breeding. This process is considered the main driving force in spontaneous polyploids formation in nature, but the potential application of these gametes to plant breeding has not been fully exploited. An effective mechanism for their artificial induction is needed to attain greater genetic variation and enable efficient use of unreduced gametes in breeding programs. Different approaches have been employed for 2n-pollen production including interspecific hybridization, manipulation of environmental factors and treatment with nitrous oxide, trifluralin, colchicine, oryzalin and other chemicals. These chemicals can act as a stimulus to produce viable 2n pollen; however, their exact mode of action, optimum concentration and developmental stages are still not known. Identification of efficient methods of inducing 2n-gamete formation will help increase pollen germination of sterile interspecific hybrids for inter-genomic recombination and introgression breeding to develop new polyploid cultivars and increase heterozygosity among plant populations. Additionally, the application of genomic tools and identification and isolation of genes and mechanisms involved in the induction of 2n-gamete will enable increased exploitation in different plant species, which will open new avenues for plant breeding.