Abstract

Doubled haploid (DH) technology reduces the time to generate completely homozygous lines in maize to just two generations. As part of the OREI COOP project, a two-generation rapid cycling breeding scheme, based on crosses between marker-selected haploid plants in the first generation and haploid induction in the second, was proposed to further speed up the breeding cycle. The scheme exploits the ability of haploids with the trait of spontaneous haploid genome doubling (SHGD) in their genetic background, to produce viable pollen and fertile ears in high percentages. In combination with genomic selection, haploids with favorable alleles can be directly crossed to generate F1 seed for induction crosses in the off-season (Figure 1). An initial experiment was performed to show that haploid × haploid crosses are possible, and yield sufficient seed for subsequent induction of generated F1.

How to Cite:

Frei, U., (2023) “Accelerating Breeding in Maize: Haploid × Haploid Crosses After Genomic Selection”, Iowa State University Research and Demonstration Farms Progress Reports 2022(1), 37-38.