Iowa researchers find method to speed up new plant breeding techniques

Some of the newer techniques to speed up plant breeding, have challenges such as leaving some varieties sterile. At Iowa State University, researchers made a breakthrough that overcomes a major hurdle of these new techniques by restoring fertility to certain plant species.

The breeding tool known as doubled haploid technology is a faster way to breed plants but often fails. Researchers found a genetic mutation in the plant Arabidopsis that affects cell division. By using that mutation to modify a portion of the plant reproductive phase, they showed that fertility could be restored to the plants.

Increasing the success of this technology will increase the development of crops with beneficial traits such as higher yields and increased resilience.

Project supported by non-profit grants and AFRI funds.