Doubled haploid production in nutraceutical species: a review

There is a growing interest in herbs, spices, nutraceuticals, and medicinal plants worldwide. These species are used for food, flavourings, cosmetics, and for medicinal purposes. However, there is very little activity underway to improve the genetics and breeding of these crops. Much of the industry relies on wild plants (i.e. not genetically improved/enhanced); therefore, the potential for variability in crop performance and active ingredients is high, presenting significant challenges for the industry. Uniform varieties would be beneficial for use in agronomic and clinical trials. Doubled haploid technology can accelerate the breeding of new varieties as has been demonstrated in other species. However, very little work has been done on developing doubled haploid technology for herbs, spices, and nutraceutical species. This review describes some of the research conducted in this field.