The aim of the project is to develop an effective and commercially-viable genetic system for the production of hybrid wheat varieties, based on new cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) and fertility restoration (Rf) technology (msH1). The msH1 system, whose components are derived from the species Hordeum chilense, has been demonstrated recently by one of the consortium partners and avoids several of the problems which until now have until prevented the development of viable CMS-based hybrid breeding technology in wheat. The project is industry-lead and includes three plant breeding companies from different states, in collaboration with public research groups from two different states.

The project has four work packages, which cover the validation of the msH1 genetic system in model wheat germplasm, examining the effects of environment on male sterility and fertility restoration genes; further development and optimization of the msH1 technology and its genetic components; the transfer of the msH1 system into durum wheat to test its potential in that species; and the transfer and evaluation of the msH1 system in elite breeding lines of bread wheat.

In order to achieve meaningful results over the three-year project period, the four work packages will run in parallel, but the work in elite breeding germplasm will be informed by the results on system validation and optimized components and new breeding tools, such as the development of molecular markers for Rf genes will be exploited directly in the plant breeding research.

The results anticipated from the project include novel hybrid breeding technology for bread wheat as well as collections of breeding lines in backgrounds selected for their suitability as hybrid parents, forming the basis for commercial hybrid breeding. The new CMS-based system will offer an alternative to the existing wheat hybrid technology which is based on a chemical hybridization agent (CHA) and will allow applications such as the use of hybrids in organic wheat production. The new technology will contribute to the competitiveness of European wheat breeding. Wheat hybrids have a number of well-recognized advantages over inbred varieties but their uptake and use to date has been limited by the availability of efficient and cost-effective hybrid seed production systems. Hybrid wheats are particularly well suited to use in lower-input, sustainable agricultural systems. They show increased yield advantages under low inputs, better yield stability under abiotic and biotic stresses and marginal conditions, and allow reductions in fertilizer, pesticide and energy inputs. The project results anticipated thus comply closely with the objectives of the Plant KBBE call, calling for research aimed at increasing yield sustainability and reducing the use of inputs such as pesticides water and fertilizer.