Next Generation Hybrid Seed Production Methods-Superior and Beneficial Biotechnological Approaches: A Review

Abstract

Hybrid seed production technology requires cross pollination between parents of choice. Several physical and chemical techniques including manual or mechanical emasculation and male gametocide chemicals have been introduced each with respective disadvantages. Easy and quick technique such as environment sensitive male sterility is effected by environmental irregularities. Identification of commercial use of genetic means of male sterility systems like GMS and CGMS have brought revolutionary benefits to hybrid seed industry in many crops to feed an ever increasing human population. However, these strategies are complicated, laborious and require more cropping area for parental increase and maintenance including employment of sophisticated backcross breeding for line conversion and search for suitable restorers. The biotechnological methods (BMS) simplified the strategies each in its own approach, though having certain disadvantages too as for example, dual component Barnase/Barstar and Cystein protease/Cystatin approach needed herbicidal spray. The next generation hybrid breeding systems were developed utilising GMS system under nuclear control avoiding search for suitable restorers and cytoplasm-nuclear interactions. The era of genomics assisted breeding has facilitated well characterised study of several crop genes including male fertility genes which is a never ending approach. In combination with transgenic and genome editing approaches, the next generation hybrid breeding systems such as “Seed Production Technology” (SPT), “Multi Control Sterility” (MCS) and “MGM-Maintainer approach” have provided easy and well defined mode of utilising male sterility for hybrid seed production bypassing all the complications of traditional techniques.