Wheat hybrids from cytoplasmic male sterility outperform chemically-induced counterparts, boosting food security.
The study compared two different methods of creating male sterility in wheat plants to see which one produced better hybrid performance. They found that the cytoplasmic system resulted in hybrids with higher grain yields compared to the chemically induced system. The cytoplasmic hybrids had more tillers and heavier grains, leading to better overall performance. On the other hand, the chemically induced hybrids had lower yields due to smaller grains and fewer tillers, possibly because of the toxic effects of the chemical used. Overall, the cytoplasmic system was more effective for creating high-performing wheat hybrids.