Chromosome manipulation and its exploitation in the genetics and breeding of wheat

Abstract

Chromosome manipulation in bread wheat uses aneuploid methods to transfer whole chromosomes or segments of chromosomes from one variety into another, or from related species into wheat. These methods have been applied extensively so that an incomparable range of aneuploid and whole chromosome substituion lines now exists in wheat. This has given rise to some of the most detailed genetic studies of economic characters carried out on a crop plant and include the analysis of the semi-dwarfism of Mediterranean wheat and the location of genes affecting grain protein amounts. The applications of this knowledge to wheat breeding is considered as well as the potential that these methods have for promoting the understanding of plant processes and of the molecular organisation of the wheat genome.