Robust transformation technologies and efficient genome editing systems are essential for accelerated breeding and the production of enhanced wheat varieties. However, recalcitrance to genetic transformation in elite wheat cultivars significantly restricts the potential for wheat improvement through transgenic integration and genome editing. Recent studies have reported improvements in regeneration efficiency by manipulating the expression of developmental regulators such as WUSCHEL (WUS), BABY BOOM (BBM), GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR 4 (GRF4) and its co-factor GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR 1 (GIF1), TaWOX5, and TaLAX1.

In this talk, I will summarize the application strategies of these developmental regulators in wheat and discuss the crosstalk between them. Additionally, I will present our latest results on testing the effects of these developmental regulators in different elite wheat cultivars. Finally, I will propose future aspects of developmental regulator application, including the potential use of protoplast regeneration systems to generate GMO-free gene-edited wheat cultivars.