Gene

Breeding program

Selective breeding

Business

Biotechnology

Artificial intelligence

Plant breeding

Marketing

Ecology

Cultivar

Key (lock)

Genetic gain

Commercialization

Genetic resources

Computer science

Biochemistry

Agronomy

Genetic variation

Selection (genetic algorithm)

Biology

Plant Breeding

Breeding new and high performing cultivars with market‐preferred traits take more than 10 years in the absence of an integrated pre‐breeding programme. During the early phases of breeding a significant amount of time, space and resources are invested in the selection and genetic advancement stages after initial crosses are performed with parental genotypes. Speed breeding has the potential to reduce the time required for cultivar development, release and commercialization. The objective of this review was to present the key opportunities and challenges of speed breeding to guide pre‐breeding and breeding programmes. Key challenges of speed breeding include: (a) access to suitable facilities, (c) staff trained in the protocol, (b) adopting major changes to breeding programme design and operations, and (d) the need for long‐term funding. The current review highlights the potential advantages of speed breeding for the successful development and release of pure line cultivars in self‐pollinated crops in ~5 years versus 8 to 10 years when using traditional methods.

Opportunities and challenges of speed breeding: A review