Taming wild genomes: perspectives on mechanisms governing differential introgression in exotic rice germplasm and their applications in breeding

Wide hybridization is an important plant breeding strategy that can be used to expand the available genetic variation in present-day crops towards breeding for enhanced agronomic performance. The primary challenge in wide hybridization is the presence of reproductive barriers and genetic incompatibi...

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Main Authors: Avinash Shrestha, Christian J. Stephens, Rosalyn B. Angeles-Shim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1489244/full
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author Avinash Shrestha
Christian J. Stephens
Rosalyn B. Angeles-Shim
author_facet Avinash Shrestha
Christian J. Stephens
Rosalyn B. Angeles-Shim
author_sort Avinash Shrestha
collection DOAJ
description Wide hybridization is an important plant breeding strategy that can be used to expand the available genetic variation in present-day crops towards breeding for enhanced agronomic performance. The primary challenge in wide hybridization is the presence of reproductive barriers and genetic incompatibilities that limit the transfer of desirable wild or distant alleles in the genetic background of cultivated plant species. Here we provide perspectives on the possible role of hybrid sterility and gametocidal genes on the observed preferential introgression in exotic germplasm of rice. We argue that while these aberrant introgression and segregation behavior of wild or distant chromosomes presents significant barriers in exploiting ancestral germplasm in breeding, the same mechanisms can also be exploited to enhance the transfer of wild alleles in a cultivated genetic background. Understanding the genetic basis of preferential introgression and segregation in wide hybrids will have serious implications in our ability to capture ancestral genetic variation that can add significant agronomic value to staple crops like rice.
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spelling doaj-art-5ef7d0a9915f426cb8fbc4fb6eed557e2025-01-22T07:15:00ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-01-011610.3389/fpls.2025.14892441489244Taming wild genomes: perspectives on mechanisms governing differential introgression in exotic rice germplasm and their applications in breedingAvinash ShresthaChristian J. StephensRosalyn B. Angeles-ShimWide hybridization is an important plant breeding strategy that can be used to expand the available genetic variation in present-day crops towards breeding for enhanced agronomic performance. The primary challenge in wide hybridization is the presence of reproductive barriers and genetic incompatibilities that limit the transfer of desirable wild or distant alleles in the genetic background of cultivated plant species. Here we provide perspectives on the possible role of hybrid sterility and gametocidal genes on the observed preferential introgression in exotic germplasm of rice. We argue that while these aberrant introgression and segregation behavior of wild or distant chromosomes presents significant barriers in exploiting ancestral germplasm in breeding, the same mechanisms can also be exploited to enhance the transfer of wild alleles in a cultivated genetic background. Understanding the genetic basis of preferential introgression and segregation in wide hybrids will have serious implications in our ability to capture ancestral genetic variation that can add significant agronomic value to staple crops like rice.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1489244/fullwide hybridizationpreferential chromosome transferchromosome introgressiongametocidal genesdistant relatives
spellingShingle Avinash Shrestha
Christian J. Stephens
Rosalyn B. Angeles-Shim
Taming wild genomes: perspectives on mechanisms governing differential introgression in exotic rice germplasm and their applications in breeding
Frontiers in Plant Science
wide hybridization
preferential chromosome transfer
chromosome introgression
gametocidal genes
distant relatives
title Taming wild genomes: perspectives on mechanisms governing differential introgression in exotic rice germplasm and their applications in breeding
title_full Taming wild genomes: perspectives on mechanisms governing differential introgression in exotic rice germplasm and their applications in breeding
title_fullStr Taming wild genomes: perspectives on mechanisms governing differential introgression in exotic rice germplasm and their applications in breeding
title_full_unstemmed Taming wild genomes: perspectives on mechanisms governing differential introgression in exotic rice germplasm and their applications in breeding
title_short Taming wild genomes: perspectives on mechanisms governing differential introgression in exotic rice germplasm and their applications in breeding
title_sort taming wild genomes perspectives on mechanisms governing differential introgression in exotic rice germplasm and their applications in breeding
topic wide hybridization
preferential chromosome transfer
chromosome introgression
gametocidal genes
distant relatives
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1489244/full
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AT christianjstephens tamingwildgenomesperspectivesonmechanismsgoverningdifferentialintrogressioninexoticricegermplasmandtheirapplicationsinbreeding
AT rosalynbangelesshim tamingwildgenomesperspectivesonmechanismsgoverningdifferentialintrogressioninexoticricegermplasmandtheirapplicationsinbreeding