RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A new protocol for speed vernalisation of winter cereals
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.12.01.470717
DO 10.1101/2021.12.01.470717
A1 Jin-Kyung Cha
A1 Kathryn O’Connor
A1 Samir Alahmad
A1 Jong-Hee Lee
A1 Eric Dinglasan
A1 Hyeonjin Park
A1 So-Myeong Lee
A1 Dominique Hirsz
A1 Soon-Wook Kwon
A1 Youngho Kwon
A1 Kyeong-Min Kim
A1 Jong-Min Ko
A1 Lee T. Hickey
A1 Dongjin Shin
A1 Laura E. Dixon
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/12/02/2021.12.01.470717.abstract
AB There are many challenges facing the development of high-yielding, nutritious crops for future environments. One limiting factor is generation time, which prolongs research and plant breeding timelines. Recent advances in speed breeding protocols have dramatically reduced generation time for many short-day and long-day species by optimising light and temperature conditions during plant growth. However, winter crops with a vernalisation requirement still require up to 6–10 weeks in low-temperature conditions before transition to reproductive development. Here, we tested a suite of environmental conditions and protocols to investigate if vernalisation can be satisfied more efficiently. We identified a vernalisation method consisting of exposing seeds at the soil surface to an extended photoperiod of 22 h day:2 h night at 10°C with transfer to speed breeding conditions that dramatically reduces generation time in both winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) and winter barley (Hordeum vulgare). Implementation of this protocol achieved up to five generations per year for winter wheat or barley, instead of the two typically obtained under standard vernalisation and plant growth conditions. The protocol has great potential to enhance training and to accelerate research, pre-breeding, and breeding outcomes focussed on winter crop improvement.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.