Mini-review: applications of haploids, doubled haploids, and dihaploids in plant genetic improvement, with a focus on doubled haploid variation in barley advancement

Gomez-Pando L.R.; Eguiluz-de la Barra A.; Acosta Y.; Lorenzo J.C. · Vegetos (2026) · DOI: 10.1007/s42535-026-01743-2

Resumen

Haploids, containing a single set of chromosomes (n), allow direct gene effect observation, while doubled haploids, produced by chromosome doubling, are fully homozygous and accelerate plant genetic improvement. Dihaploids, derived from tetraploid species, aid genetic studies and polyploid crop enhancement. This mini-review examines ten plant species improved using these techniques, five biological limitations affecting their application, and the impact of doubled haploid variation on barley genetic progress. Barley cultivation in the Peruvian highlands has faced performance challenges, leading researchers to employ the doubled-haploid technique for better-adapted varieties. Three barley crosses—Ya/LM94, B16/LM94, and B12/LM94—generated doubled-haploid lines evaluated in Acobamba alongside parental and commercial controls. The Ya/LM94-PC27 line closely matched the expert-defined ideal, offering higher yield, shorter plant height, stripe rust resistance, and optimal grain quality, while reducing research costs by 26%. Haploids, doubled haploids, and dihaploids have significantly advanced genetic diversity in wheat, rice, and barley, with superior lines like Ya/LM94-PC27 and B12/LM94-PC34 demonstrating their ability to overcome breeding limitations and drive agricultural progress. © The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Society for Plant Research 2026.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina