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In a landmark study, an international team of scientists, including researchers from the University of Western Australia, sequenced and analyzed the genomes of 15 wheat varieties representing farming programs from around the world.
The research provides the most comprehensive atlas of wheat genome sequences reported to date.
Wheat, one of the most cultivated crops in the world, requires its production to be increased by more than 50% by 2050 to meet estimated global demand. This study will greatly assist global crop selection by helping to improve crop yield, quality and pest resistance in wheat and other important crop plants.
“Wheat is a staple food and any improvements we can make to increase its productivity and quality will be important as the world’s population grows rapidly and food security becomes a growing problem.”
Dr. Joanna Melonek
The study, published in Nature (available when the embargo is lifted) by the University of Saskatchewan and involved an international effort of more than 90 scientists from universities and institutes in Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia , Mexico, Israel and the United States
Two UWA researchers, Professor Ian Small and Dr Joanna Melonek, from the ARC Center of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology and the UWA School of Molecular Sciences contributed to the study through their globally recognized experience in a family of genes known as Restorer-of-fertility -like (Rfl). These genes have valuable applications in wheat breeding programs.
‘Wheat hybrids represent a fraction of the wheat plants grown globally, despite the promise of higher yields and better tolerance to disease and environmental challenges,’ said Professor Small.
“The lack of fertility control systems that would be practical and economical on an industrial scale is an important limitation in the development of hybrid varieties for self-pollinating crops such as wheat.”
Researchers analyzed Rfl sequence information across wheat genomes and found surprisingly high diversity between varieties that is directly relevant to breeding programs.
Dr Joanna Melonek said that analyzing the Rfl gene family as a source of genes that restore fertility would be important for accelerating breeding programs, which, if successful, would significantly increase grain production.
“We knew from the first comprehensive reference to the wheat genome published two years ago in Science that wheat had a remarkably large number of Rfl genes, but this new work reveals the high variation among family members between different wheat varieties,” said Dr. Melonek.
“Wheat is a staple food and any improvements we can make to increase its productivity and quality will be important as the world’s population grows rapidly and food security becomes a growing problem.”
Professor Small and Dr Melonek believe the results are transferable to other plants and offer a significant path to help improve crop yields and quality in the future.
Wheat farmer Curtis Pozniak, who led the University of Saskatchewan project, said the resource allowed for more precise and controlled reproduction.
“It will increase the rate of grain improvement for the benefit of farmers and consumers and will meet future food demand,” he said.
Scientific groups in the global wheat community are expected to use the new resource to identify genes related to the required traits, which will accelerate selection efficiency.
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