School of Speed Breeding (SoSB),

One of the biggest challenges in plant breeding is the time it takes to develop pure, homozygous lines. Normally, this requires 4 to 6 generations of self-pollination, which can take several years. The long vegetative period of plants and dormancy in seeds add more delay.

To overcome this and reduce generation time, breeders have used several approaches such as:

1. Greenhouse cultivation during autumn to winter to grow off-season crops.
2. Single-seed descent (SSD) for rapid inbreeding.
3. Shuttle breeding across locations for multiple cropping cycles.
4. Embryo culture to rescue immature seeds.
5. Doubled haploid technology to achieve homozygosity in a single step.

While effective yet each method comes with limitations, whether narrow crop applicability, or technical complexity.

Speed Breeding: An emerging technology

Speed breeding (SB) is a an emerging technology with proven results, which enables 4 to 6 generations per year in many crops by reducing the time from sowing to flowering and from flowering to harvestable seeds. Key factors influencing the success of speed breeding include:

1. Photoperiod and light quality (extended daylength, LED spectrum tuning).
2. Light intensity and carbon dioxide levels (boosting photosynthesis).
3. Temperature and vernalization (controlling flowering triggers).
4. Substrate volume and mineral nutrition (supporting rapid growth).
5. Plant growth regulators and shoot management (synchronizing development).

Beyond the vegetative phase, speed breeding also addresses the generative stage by using embryo rescue, forced seed desiccation, and dormancy-breaking treatments, enabling quicker seed-to-seed cycles.

Integrating Genetics with Speed Breeding

Recent advances combine genetic engineering, gene editing, and marker-assisted selection with speed breeding. This integration not only accelerates the creation of pure lines but also supports introgression of target alleles, hybridization programs, and genomic selection pipelines.

The efficiency of speed breeding has transformed how research institutions and seed companies operate. By reducing both the vegetative period per generation and the overall timeline for developing pure lines. By adjusting growth conditions and combining with embryo culture, dormancy-breaking, and genomics, breeders can save years in developing new varieties. This means faster delivery of improved crops to the field, directly supporting food security and sustainable agriculture.

Cutting Generation Time in Crops with Speed Breeding.

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