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An international research collaboration, which includes scientists from the University of Adelaide’s Waite Research Institute, has unlocked a new genetic variation in wheat and barley, a major impetus for the global effort in breeding high-grade wheat and barley varieties. yield.
Researchers from the 10+ Wheat Genomes project, led by Professor Curtis Pozniak (University of Saskatchewan, Canada), and the International Barley Pan Genome Sequencing Consortium, led by Professor Nils Stein (Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Germany), sequenced a suite of genomes from both cereals, published today in the journal Nature. They say it will open the doors to the next generation of wheat and barley varieties.
“Wheat and barley are staple food crops around the world, but their production must increase dramatically to meet future food demand,” says University of Adelaide associate professor Ken Chalmers who, along with his colleague from the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Professor Emeritus Peter Langridge, led the Adelaide research. “Wheat production alone is estimated to have to increase by more than 50 percent from current levels by 2050 to feed the growing world population.” Murdoch University Professor Chengdao Li also played a key role in the Australian component of barley sequencing.
The research published today brings scientists closer to unlocking the entire genetic set – or pan genomes – of wheat and barley. By understanding the full extent of genetic variation in these grains, researchers and plant growers will have the tools necessary to realize the required increase in global production.
“These genome assemblies will drive the discovery of functional genes and equip researchers and farmers with the tools they need to bring the next generation of modern wheat and barley cultivars that will help meet future food demands,” Associate Professor Ken Chalmers
‘Advances in genomics have accelerated reproduction and improved yield and quality of crops, including rice and maize, but similar efforts in wheat and barley have been more challenging,’ says Professor Langridge. “This is largely due to the size and complexity of their genomes, our limited knowledge of key genes that control yield, and a lack of genome assembly data for multiple lines of interest to farmers.
“Modern wheat and barley cultivars carry a wide range of genetic variants and different genomic structures that are associated with important traits, such as increased yield, drought tolerance and disease resistance.
“This variation cannot be captured with a single genome sequence. Only by sequencing multiple and diverse genomes can we begin to understand the full extent of genetic variation, the pan genome. “
The two international projects sequenced multiple varieties of wheat and barley from around the world. The Adelaide component was supported by Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).
“The information generated through these collaborative projects revealed the dynamics of the genome structure and previously hidden genetic variations of these important crops, and showed how breeders achieved major improvements in productivity. This work will support the delivery of the next generations of modern varieties, ”says Associate Professor Chalmers.
The inclusion of two Australian wheat varieties, AGT-Mace (PBR) and Longreach-Lancer (PBR) which reflect both southern and northern growing areas, means that it is possible to identify potential genetic variation for adaptation to our different production environments.
The University of Adelaide has also sequenced three varieties of barley with desirable characteristics such as high yield and potential tolerance to heat, frost, salinity and drought, and novel disease resistance.
‘These genomic assemblages will drive the discovery of functional genes and provide researchers and farmers with the tools they need to bring the next generation of modern wheat and barley cultivars that will help meet future food demands,’ says Professor Ken Chalmers.
The research published in Nature is:
The pan-genome of barley reveals the hidden inheritance of mutation reproduction; is
Multiple wheat genomes reveal global variations in modern farming.
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