Current Status of Wheat Transformation

Current Status of Wheat Transformation

Traditionally, genetic variability is generated by an extensive crossing program, which is complemented by strict selection to identify useful new recombinants. Plant biotechnology offers many opportunities for breeders to solve certain breeding problems at the molecular level. The tissue culture methodology and the genetic modification of economically important monocotyledons have undergone a revolution in the last decade. As the production of transgenic plants is a complex procedure, including the uptake of DNA molecules into the cells, the integration of foreign nucleotide sequences into the host genomic DNA and the expression of new genes in a controlled way, and as there are still many unsolved questions, further development is necessary. The methodology opens up the possibility of introducing novel genes that may induce resistance to diseases and abiotic stresses, allow the modification of dough quality and the dietetic quality of proteins, and increase the levels of micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and vitamins. In the present review, the authors would like to summarise the most important advances in wheat transformation.