MANHATTAN, KAS. — Heartland Plant Innovations has expanded its production capacity for wheat doubled haploids (DHs.). Doubled haploid technology allows plant breeders to create pure lines rather than segregating lines and significantly reduces the amount of time it takes to develop a new wheat variety.

Heartland Plant Innovations said it has produced more than 15,000 wheat doubled haploid lines during its first 20 months of operation and now expects to ship at least 30,000 lines in the next 20 months as the company moves to the new Kansas Wheat Innovation Center upon its completion in December. The new facility is expected to provide Heartland Plant Innovations with the space to produce up to 50,000 lines per year.

Heartland Plant Innovations is currently taking orders for the 2012-2013 production cycle.

“Using DH lines saves time and money for wheat breeders and geneticists,” said Forrest Chumley, president of Heartland Plant Innovations. “On behalf of our company’s farmer-owners and our partners in the public and private sectors, HPI is proud to offer this valuable service. Our aim is to speed delivery of problem-solving genetics for farmers and people who depend on wheat.”

Heartland Plant Innovations said it makes its DHs using the wheat x corn method, which is effective with almost all wheat genotypes. The company plans to use customer-selected DNA markers in conjunction with wheat DH production to provide “Trait Assured Doubled Haploids” (TADHs) beginning in 2013.

“This added service will significantly increase the efficiency of producing DH lines and allow customers to incorporate DH lines into their breeding and genetics programs more effectively,” the company said.