Integrative Metabolomics and Predictive Modelling of Doubled Haploid Induction in Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Abstract Doubled haploid plants can be produced from immature female or male germ cells. The male germ line is mostly preferred since the number of microspores exceeds by far the number of egg cells. Applying this method, microspores need to be switched from the gametophytic to the sporophytic development. In contrast to conventional breeding programs, the time to obtain homozygosity with this method is shortened from approx. 6 years to approx. 1 year. However, the efficiency of anther culture in wheat has been reported to be genotype dependent and to result in a high proportion of albinism. Here, we studied the metabolic changes between Triticum aestivum DH lines with different regeneration rates, coming from a cross of the wheat cultivars Svilena and Berengar, contrasting in their ability to regenerate green plants. The metabolic analysis showed clear differences between the lines with high and low regeneration capability. The metabolic profiles found in terms of compounds were very similar in the lines, the differences resided mainly in their concentrations. Amino acids and organic acids were more abundant in the lines with higher rate of regeneration. In contrast, among sugars, galactose was found to be more abundant in the low regenerating lines. Based on the metabolic data, a predictive model was developed for the green plant regeneration rate. For the first time, a parsimonious linear model including isoleucine and phenylalanine accurately predicted regenerative competence, highlighting these amino acids as key metabolic indicators.