A Comprehensive Review on Fast Track Breeding of Fruit Crops: A New Approach

Abstract

Given the rapid growth of the global population, it is crucial to accelerate food production to meet the everincreasing demand for food and nutrition. Given the limited potential for expanding cultivation areas, it is crucial for plant breeders to prioritize the development of new varieties that not only have higher productivity but also possess the ability to withstand different types of pests, diseases and environmental challenges. Nevertheless, the development of new varieties requires a meticulous and time-consuming process. The duration of a breeding program is primarily determined by the number of years needed to develop homozygous lines from the segregating generations resulting from the crossbreeding of two parents. Woody perennial plants, such as fruit and nut trees, often have lengthy breeding cycles. Plant breeders may need to go through multiple cycles and wait for several years to develop and introduce improved cultivars. However, recent advancements in biotechnologies and genomics have the potential to greatly accelerate cultivar development in all crops. Through the utilization of various genetic engineering techniques, Fast-track breeding systems are able to induce early flowering, leading to generation cycles of one year or less. This method has been used on various crops to effectively generate homozygous lines after crossing carefully selected parents with contrasting traits. The technique is dependent on precise control of various factors including photoperiod, light intensity, temperature, soil moisture, soil nutrition, and high-density planting. This brief review provides an overview of strategies aimed at minimizing the frequency and length of breeding cycles for horticultural crops, while maximizing their yield.