Oral Presentation International Plant Molecular Biology Conference 2024

Why should we grow hybrids? Is heterosis the only advantage? (#325)

Joanna Melonek 1
  1. Research School of Biology/ Division of Plant Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia

Hybrids grow faster, produce more, and show more stable yields in changing environmental conditions compared to conventional lines. Hybrids combine the best traits of their parent plants, leading to superior quality in terms of yield, taste, size, and nutritional value. Besides hybrid vigour, hybrid breeding offers several other benefits. One significant advantage is the ability to combine multiple desirable traits from different parent lines, such as enhanced pest and disease resistance, and greater adaptability to various environmental conditions. Additionally, hybrids can be tailored to specific agricultural needs, such as shorter growing seasons or better performance under drought conditions. This flexibility allows for more efficient and sustainable farming practices, ultimately leading to higher productivity and better resource use. However, despite these advantages, hybrid cultivars are still missing in many important crops like wheat and barley due to challenges such as genetic complexity and high cost of seed production. In my talk, I will briefly explore these challenges and discuss potential solutions to overcome them.