Influence of different wheat and Imperata cylindrica genetic backgrounds on haploid induction efficiency in wheat doubled haploid breeding

Four Indian and one Japanese accession of Imperata cylindrica were assessed for their influence upon haploid production in F1 generations of 21 wheat crosses (winter × spring, spring × spring and winter × winter) to find an efficient pollen source for haploid induction, which would enhance doubled haploid breeding in bread wheat. The frequency of haploid induction was influenced differently by the wheat and the I. cylindrica genotypes, indicating both maternal and paternal genetic influence on haploid induction. The gene actions controlling the inheritance of haploid induction appeared to be non-additive. Haploid formation efficiency was closely associated with other haploid induction parameters, i.e. pseudoseed formation, embryo formation and haploid regeneration. Amongst wheat F1 groups, spring × spring wheats exhibited the highest potential for haploid induction. General combining ability for haploid production was highest for the, I. cylindrica genotype Ic-Aru, native to the northeastern Himalayas, which appears as a potential pollen source for efficient haploid induction in bread wheat.