Traditional and novel wheat breeding methods used in Hungary

Abstract

In the traditional breeding program undertaken at the Cereal Research Institute (CRI), Szeged, single top, double and multiple crosses are widely used, followed by head selection in F2 populations. Successive generations undergo screening nursery yield tests, pathological evaluation and quality tests. Final evaluation is currently being carried out in a trial network at 10 locations. During the past 25 years, 26 bread wheat and 6 durum wheat varieties have been produced and released. By in vitro androgenesis beginning with F3-F4 generations, more than 10,000 doubled haploid lines have been produced. One was released and patented in Hungary under the name of GK Delibab. During this in vitro work, it was proved that the doubled haploid (DH) lines are comparable, from an agronomic perspective, to those produced by conventional methods. In a 20 year study, an artificial system which accurately scores resistance and tolerance of lines to fusarium head blight (FHB) has been developed. Intensive research is being undertaken on tolerance to insects such as cereal leaf beetle and aphids, and resistance to viruses and abiotic stresses such as drought and acidic soils. Selection for bread making quality is another main area of research.