Gene Introgression: Strategy for Utilization of Crop Genetic Resources

Abstract

The increasing demand for food production with limited resources is creating a frightening situation to meet the hunger requirement of the world population. A range of biotic and abiotic stresses significantly affect crop productivity thereby widening the gap between demand and supply. Modern crop breeding involving the techniques and strategies of molecular biology has always been considered as one of the best approaches for creation of variability in the crop species to enhance the yield potentials. Transgenic techniques like gene introgression can supplement the conventional breeding methods for speedy development of desirable crop genotypes. Despite availability of modern techniques of plant improvement, identification and isolation of potential genes remains a major bottleneck. Crop genetic resources including wild relatives and landraces, which have survived all kinds of environmental challenges over centuries, can constitute a major reservoir of these potential genes/QTLs for creation of variability and enhance the yield potential of crops. Controlled inter-specific movement of genes has the potential to accelerate the pace of crop evolution by overcoming the limitations of conventional crossing like incompatibility issues and linkage drag.