Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) conserved in gene banks offer vital genetic diversity that is essential for enhancing breeding programs. Pre-breeding plays a crucial role in expanding the genetic base of crops by identifying valuable traits in un-adapted materials and incorporating them into more adapted varieties for further breeding. Essentially, pre-breeding bridges the gap between genetic resources and breeding programs, providing a promising strategy for improving crop varieties.

Despite the potential, the utilization of PGR in crop improvement and pre-breeding has been relatively limited. However, recent advancements in genomics have significantly enhanced this process. High-quality reference genomes, cost-effective sequencing and re-sequencing technologies, marker-assisted selection, QTL (quantitative trait loci) analysis, genomic selection, and population-level genotyping platforms have revolutionized the field. Additionally, genome editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 and the more recent base editing methods enable precise generation of target-specific mutations, facilitating the study of gene functions and their phenotypic effects through knockout mutations.

These genomic tools have not only accelerated the use of PGR but also improved pre-breeding efforts by enabling rapid selection of trait-specific germplasm, shortening the breeding cycle for validating genes of interest, and confirming the successful transfer of these genes into cultivated gene pools. In crops with limited genetic and genomic resources, pre-breeding remains a challenge. Nevertheless, genomics-assisted approaches have notably sped up the incorporation of complex traits into various crop cultivars, showcasing their significant impact on modern breeding strategies.