Pollen, source of haploids for plant breeding

The presence of chromosomes in single copy in gametes and the concept of totipotency have together led to the development of haploid plant in a large number of plant species. Haploids have great applied significance in plant breeding as each of their genes, even the recessive ones are expressed. Detection of recessive mutations is feasible when haploids are used as experimental material. More recently, the concept of gametoclonal variation and gametosomatic hyhridization has developed which helps in creating unique type of variability for improving a particular plant species. Though the exploitation of these techniques is not maximum presently due to experimental limitations, yet continued efforts in this direction will definitely lead to their successful utilization.