Near-infrared spectroscopy enables quality selection in wheat breeding

Background and Objectives

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and small-scale testing are used to evaluate wheat germplasm is a cost-effective strategy to reduce thousands of wheat lines to hundreds and then to tens of lines. Identification of high-quality germplasm among thousands of lines is dependent on the accuracy of the tests that are used and how well these data correlate with the large-scale tests that are used to confirm the end-use quality before commercial release of a new wheat variety. In this study, NIR-based testing was investigated to determine the effectiveness of this high-throughput, nondestructive technology.

Findings

To demonstrate the effectiveness of NIRS and small-scale testing as a selection strategy, interpretive population statistics evaluating three consecutive generations (F₄, F₅, and F₆) from a wheat breeding program were compared. The F₄ (early stage) generation (2019) was predicted for milling yield with a proportion of 13.9% of lines above 74% (w/w) milling yield. From those lines that progressed to F₅ (mid-generation in 2020), the proportion increased to 26.2% of lines above 74% (w/w) milling yield. Selected lines from F₅ were progressed to F₆ (advanced generation in 2021), where 62.4% of lines were above 74% (w/w) milling yield.

Conclusions

Each time the set progressed through the selection strategy, the portion of lines above 74% (w/w) milling yield increased.

Significance and Novelty

This study demonstrates the value and efficiency of high-throughput selection strategies using nondestructive NIRS at the F₄ (early-stage generation) stage and small-scale testing at the F₅ stage of a wheat breeding program.