Fertile introgression products generated via somatic hybridization between wheat and Thinopyrum intermedium

Area of Science:

• Plant genetics and breeding
• Crop science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) improvement relies on genetic diversity.
• Wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) offers a potential source of beneficial traits.
• Somatic hybridization is a key technique for interspecific gene transfer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To produce fertile somatic hybrids between wheatgrass and bread wheat.
• To investigate the transfer of genetic material from Th. intermedium to wheat.
• To assess the potential of these hybrids for wheat improvement.

Main Methods:

• Fusion of wheat and Th. intermedium protoplasts (both UV-treated and untreated).
• Regeneration of calli and plantlets from fused protoplasts.
• Analysis of hybridity using plant morphology, isozyme, DNA profiling (RAPD), and karyology.
• Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) to confirm chromosome composition.

Main Results:

• Successfully produced both symmetric and asymmetric somatic hybrids.
• Identified 64 hybrid plants out of 124 regenerated calli.
• Regenerated fertile, vigorous hybrid plants, phenotypically closer to wheat.
• Confirmed incorporation of Th. intermedium chromosome fragments into the wheat genome.

Conclusions:

• Fertile wheatgrass-wheat hybrids were successfully generated, demonstrating successful gene transfer.
• These hybrids represent a valuable new source of genetic variation for wheat breeding programs.
• The study highlights the potential of somatic hybridization for enhancing crop traits and resilience.