Advancements of Haploid Technology in Crops: New Horizons in Breeding and Genetics

The haploid technology, also known as doubled haploid (DH) technology, stands as a pivotal method in the realm of plant breeding. Utilizing this technology, homozygous recombinants with stable traits can be obtained within just one or two generations, thereby significantly reducing the duration of breeding. This advantage makes it highly regarded by breeders. Additionally, DH technology facilitates the creation of permanent genetic populations instrumental for the cloning of quantitative trait loci and allows recessive mutations to be identified at earlier generational stages. Moreover, it plays a crucial role in producing germplasm with different ploidies, particularly in polyploid crops applications.

There are numerous approaches for haploid induction, including anther/microspore culture, ovule/ovary/bud culture, haploid inducer line, distant hybridization, and pollen treatment. For a long time, anther/microspore culture has been the main method for haploid induction in crops. However, the stagnation in the comprehension of its molecular underpinnings has led to a decline in its prominence. Recently, with the remarkable development of haploid inducer line-based haploid technology in maize and the revelation of its intrinsic molecular mechanisms, have rekindled interest in haploid technology within the field of breeding.

In practice, each crop possesses its unique characteristics, and not all crops can utilize the same haploid induction method. The haploid induction rates across many crops remain suboptimal, indicating a pressing need for further refinement and enhancement. Apart from the haploid inducer line, the intrinsic mechanisms of other haploid induction methods still need to be further elucidated. Therefore, this research topic aims to provide more options and novel perspectives on haploid technology.

• The establishment and optimization of the anther/microspore culture method along with a profound analysis of its intrinsic molecular mechanism.
• The utilization of gene editing to create haploid inducer lines on different crops and promoting its combination with other technologies such as synthetic apomixis.
• The creation of new germplasm based on haploid technology and elucidation of their molecular mechanisms in improving nutrient use efficiency, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, etc.
• The research and development of compound breeding technology based on haploid technology and the formulation of their application strategies in crop breeding.

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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: anther culture, isolated microspore culture, haploid inducer line, chromosome doubling, ploidy identification

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