Methods and compositions for improved plant breeding using gene editing and haploid induction are provided.

Provided here are methods of using a mutated patatin-like phospholipase IIα (“pPLAIIα,” renamed here MATRILINEAL) to induce haploid induction in plants, cloning a pPLAIIα to induce haploid induction in plants, and genetically engineering a plant to contain a mutated pPLAIIα. Also provided are methods of applying topical and spray chemicals, lipids, and RNAi molecules to plants during pollination in order to induce haploid production. Further provided are methods of chemically treating plants during pollination to induce haploids while also reducing embryo abortion and increasing seed set.

Provided here are methods of using a mutated patatin-like phospholipase IIα (“pPLAIIα,” renamed here MATRILINEAL) to induce haploid induction in plants, cloning a pPLAIIα to induce haploid induction in plants, and genetically engineering a plant to contain a mutated pPLAIIα. Also provided are methods of applying topical and spray chemicals, lipids, and RNAi molecules to plants during pollination in order to induce haploid production. Further provided are methods of chemically treating plants during pollination to induce haploids while also reducing embryo abortion and increasing seed set.

It was found that plants comprising modified CENPC protein comprising one or more active mutations which affect the functioning of CENPC protein yet allow plants expressing said modified CENPC protein to be viable, are able to induce haploid offspring after a cross to or with a wild type plant comprising a endogenous CENPC protein. The invention relates to generation of haploid and doubled haploid plants.

It was found that plants comprising modified CENPC protein comprising one or more active mutations which affect the functioning of CENPC protein yet allow plants expressing said modified CENPC protein to be viable, are able to induce haploid offspring after a cross to or with a wild type plant comprising a endogenous CENPC protein. The invention relates to generation of haploid and doubled haploid plants.

Two sorghum maternal haploid inducer lines SMHI01 and SMHI02 are provided including seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing sorghum haploid embryos using SMHI01 and SMHI02 are also provided. The sorghum haploid embryos produced as a result of the use of either maternal haploid inducer line SMHI01 or SMHI02 may be doubled to produce doubled haploid embryos, seeds, and plants as part of a sorghum breeding program.

Two sorghum maternal haploid inducer lines SMHI01 and SMHI02 are provided including seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing sorghum haploid embryos using SMHI01 and SMHI02 are also provided. The sorghum haploid embryos produced as a result of the use of either maternal haploid inducer line SMHI01 or SMHI02 may be doubled to produce doubled haploid embryos, seeds, and plants as part of a sorghum breeding program.

The present invention relates to plants having the activity of a haploid inducer comprising mutations in certain regions of the KINETOCHORE NULL2 (KNL2) protein in a plant, in particular within the SANTA domain. Provided are methods of generating haploid cells and doubled haploid cells as well as corresponding plants and plant parts. The present invention also relates to a method for identification of a plant in a plant population, wherein the plant has at least one mutation in the KNL2 protein, in particular within the SANTA domain, which confers activity of a haploid inducer. Further provided is a set of oligonucleotides for the identification of a plant having activity of a haploid inducer.

The present invention generally provides methods to generate plants with high frequency of spontaneous haploid genome doubling for use in doubled haploid production. The invention relates to the BUBR1 nucleic acid and protein sequences identified, which are associated with spontaneous haploid genome doubling.

The present invention generally provides methods to generate plants with high frequency of spontaneous haploid genome doubling for use in doubled haploid production. The invention relates to the BUBR1 nucleic acid and protein sequences identified, which are associated with spontaneous haploid genome doubling.