Harness the wild: progress and perspectives in wheat genetic improvement

Common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a staple hexaploid crop with numerous wild relatives. However, domestication and modern breeding have significantly narrowed its genetic diversity, diminishing its capacity to adapt to climate change. Wild relatives of wheat serve as a vital reservoir of genetic diversity, offering traits that enhance its resistance to various biotic and abiotic stresses. Over recent decades, remarkable progress has been made in utilizing superior genes from wild relatives to bolster wheat's defenses against diseases and pests, though the exploration of genes conferring abiotic stress tolerance has lagged behind. In this review, we summarize key advancements in the utilization of wild relatives for wheat enhancement over the past century, emphasizing both theoretical and technological innovations. Furthermore, we evaluate the potential contributions of wild relatives to address production challenges posed by climate changes. We also explore strategies for isolating superior genes and developing pre-breeding germplasm to support the future development of climate-resilient wheat varieties.