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Hereditas(Beijing) ›› 2025, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (3): 289-299.doi: 10.16288/j.yczz.24-334

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Wheat wide hybridization and chromosome engineering breeding in China

Qi Zheng1(), Li Zhao2, Bin Li1, Hongwei Li1, Wanquan Ji3, Xueyong Zhang2()   

  1. 1. Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    2. Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
    3. North-Western A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
  • Received:2024-11-21 Revised:2025-01-01 Online:2025-03-20 Published:2025-01-02
  • Contact: Xueyong Zhang E-mail:qzheng@genetics.ac.cn;zhangxueyong@caas.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(31971875);National Natural Science Foundation of China(32472143)

Abstract:

As the second important staple crop next to rice in China, common wheat (Triticum aestivum) plays a decisive role in national food security. Wild and semi-wild relatives of wheat provide abundant genetic resources for wheat genetic improvement. In China, wheat wide hybridization and chromosome engineering breeding initiated in the 1950s and developed into a well-defined theoretical and technical system over the next three decades through learning, exploration and practice. Subsequently, the technological innovation in alien chromatin identification and the isolation and analysis of alien resistance genes sponsored by continuous national projects have significantly enhanced China’s impact on the world in this field. Eminent scientists such as Professor Li Zhensheng, who was awarded the Medal of the Republic before the National Day in 2024, have made outstanding contributions to the establishment and development of the research in this area in China. This article reviews the history of wheat wide hybridization and chromosome engineering breeding in China, aiming to honor the senior scientists and inspire future researchers to work hard in germplasm innovation and alien gene transfer, cloning and utilization in breeding.

Key words: wheat, wide hybridization, chromosome engineering breeding, gene cloning