Molecular genetics and multi-omics technologies in plant breeding

   Relevance. Progress in plant molecular genetics and multi-omics technology is driven by advancements in high-throughput sequencing, chromosome scaffold genome assembly, bioinformatics skills and genome editing which deepen our understanding of plant biology and improve crop breeding. The fundamentals of plant breeding involve recombination as a key genetic process to create new, superior plant varieties with desirable traits like higher yield, improved quality, and resistance to pests and diseases. Modern computational methodologies facilitate the effective synthesis and interpretation of multi-omics data. Challenges remain in applying new techniques to a wider range of crops.

   The aim of this review is to draw the attention of plant breeders to the latest advances in molecular genetics and omics technologies for improving plant breeding.

   Results. This review examines recently published articles in high-ranking international journals that make important contributions to expanding and refining our knowledge and significantly advance cutting-edge research. The review includes articles on the successful application of multi-omics to plant breeding, which yielded promising results in identifying key genes and regulatory elements underlying stress tolerance, crop yield, and seed production. A detailed analysis of the development of markers for types of cytoplasmic male sterility based on high-resolution melting (HRM) is given. This review highlights original experimental approaches aimed at studying the control of recombination localization for the successful introgression of valuable genes in interspecific hybridization programs.

   Conclusion. The strategy for the further development of plant breeding will focus on integrating omics technologies, genome editing, and artificial intelligence in bioinformatics. Moreover, the integration of genome editing and an in-depth study of meiotic recombination could facilitate crossovers at target sites within gametes. All efforts to improve the accuracy and speed of plant breeding serve the main goal of ensuring the abundance and diversity of plant foods.

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