Advances in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genetics, Genomics and Breeding: Current Status, Tools and Future Perspectives for Sustainable Food Security

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important cereal crops in the world. It supplies nearly 18–20% of global dietary calories and protein, sustaining the food security of over 2.5 billion people. Global food demand is projected to increase by 35–56% by 2050, placing additional pressure on wheat production and improvement programmes and making genetic improvement an urgent priority. This review synthesizes current advances in wheat genetics, genomics, and breeding. It discusses the origin and domestication of wheat, as well as the structure of the allohexaploid genome (AABBDD; 2n = 6x = 42). Major genes and Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) governing yield, disease resistance, grain quality, and abiotic stress tolerance are critically reviewed. Key breeding approaches are evaluated, including doubled haploid technology, Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS), Genomic Selection (GS), speed breeding, and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. Stability analysis methods, particularly the Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) model and the Eberhart–Russell regression, are discussed in the context of multi-environment trial evaluation. The integration of Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS), pangenomics, multi-omics, and high-throughput phenotyping for precision wheat improvement is also covered. This review focuses primarily on India, with special attention to the North Eastern Plains Zone (NEPZ) and the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains. In this region, terminal heat stress and monsoon variability pose major production challenges. Key challenges and strategic recommendations for developing climate-resilient, high-yielding, and nutritionally superior wheat varieties are outlined.