Review and New Progress in Wheat Wide Hybridization for Improving the Resistance to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses

Abstract

Since 1956, our group has been working on the wide hybridization between wheat and tall wheatgrass (Thinopyrum ponticum Liu & Wang, 2n = 70). During the past 56 years, we developed a set of partial amphiploids (octoploids), addition lines, substitution lines, translocation lines. A series of wheat cultivars named as Xiaoyan, such as Xiaoyan 4, 5, 6, 54, 60 and 81 were released. They generally have multiple disease resistance and good adaptability to various environments. These traits might derive from tall wheatgrass, especially with respect of resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this paper, we briefl y review the history of this study focusing on research background, alien parental selection, establishment of breeding procedure, new germplasms and their application, as well as the newest varieties and their performance to biotic and abiotic stresses.