Chapter 6 - Wide hybridization

Abstract

Wide hybridization or distant hybridization is crossing between two different species or genera, and has been used successfully to move genes and to create new crop species. It has been used effectively in row crops and vegetables. In ornamental crops it has been used due to its ability to create novelty. The barrier to wide hybridization includes external (e.g., spatial isolation, ecological isolation, mechanical isolation, and cross incompatibility) and internal (hybrid inviability, hybrid sterility, and hybrid breakdown). In this chapter, some of the major examples of wide hybridization in multiple crops, such as wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane, tomato, pigeon pea, chickpea, mung bean, and urd bean, are presented. For practical applications, advantages and limitation of wide hybridization are included.