Recruiting Distant Hybridization for Reshaping Meiotic Recombination

Recruiting Distant Hybridization for Reshaping Meiotic Recombination

Gene introgression that involves the transfer of favorable allelic diversity for broadening the genetic base of breedingmaterials is a powerful 'toolkit' for creating novel allelic combinations during plant sexual reproduction. It is a key factor playing animportant role in plant breeding schemes by reintroducing genetic variation at selective sweeps or introgression of desirable traitsrequired for the development of new varieties. Meiosis is a specialized cell division not only enables sexually reproducing organismsto reduce their genomic constituent by half, also provides indefinitely novel combinations of allelic diversity by reshuffling the parentalgenetic makeup. Crossing over that takes place during prophase-I facilitates the meiotically exchange of genetic materials betweenhomolog pairs as well as their accurate segregations. It is tightly modulated and many intrinsic factors and extrinsic agents areassociated with regulation of the process, however, the modulation of meiosis is possible. Although, advanced approaches such asCRIPR/Cas and Virus-Induced gene Silencing (VIGS) have opened new horizons for manipulation of meiotic recombination, distanthybridization could effectively influence the frequency and distribution of homologous (HR) and particularly homoeologousrecombination (HeR). In this review, we provide a brief overview of the recent advances in the plant mechanisms for manipulation ofHR and HeR employing distant hybridization.