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Review Papers | Agriculture | Volume 15 Issue 3, March 2026 | Pages: 1716 - 1720 | India
Speed Breeding as a Bridge Between Conventional and Modern Methods for Wheat Improvement
Abstract: In traditional wheat breeding, developing a new variety takes many years because plants are grown under natural field conditions which allow only one generation per year. This slow cycle delays selection, crossing and the stabilization of desirable traits, making the entire breeding process long and labor-intensive. To overcome these limitations, modern crop science has introduced faster and more efficient approaches. One of the most promising among these is Speed Breeding (SB). SB is a technique that uses controlled environments to accelerate plant growth from the vegetative stage to flowering and seed production, even under high-density planting. The concept was pioneered by Australian scientist Dr. Lee Hickey, whose research led to the development of rapid-growing wheat varieties such as 'USU-Apogee' and 'USU-Perigee'. Notably, USU-Apogee was even grown successfully on the International Space Station in 2003. This method works by extending the photoperiod and carefully regulating temperature, soil media, spacing, CO? concentration and other growth conditions in greenhouses or growth chambers. These adjustments significantly shorten the breeding cycle, enabling multiple generations within a single year. SB can be implemented through three systems: a fully controlled growth chamber (SB I), a temperature-controlled glasshouse (SB II) and a low-cost homemade growth room (SB III). SB supports rapid development of genetic mapping populations, speeds up QTL discovery and enhances marker-assisted selection. It also accelerates genome-edited and genetically modified crop development by allowing quicker validation of CRISPR-based edits. Overall, SB enables breeders to efficiently combine traits like stress tolerance, yield and disease resistance, making it a powerful tool for future wheat improvement.
Keywords: Speed breeding, wheat improvement, controlled growth conditions, rapid plant generation, Crop improvemen
How to Cite?: J. J. Bhalodiya, M. H. Sapovadiya, T. H. Borkhatariya, R. J. Chhodavadiya, "Speed Breeding as a Bridge Between Conventional and Modern Methods for Wheat Improvement", Volume 15 Issue 3, March 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1716-1720, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26328093919, DOI: https://dx.dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26328093919