Scientists unravel wheat's 'genetic code' to open avenue for improvement

A collaborative study between Chinese and Australian scientists has uncovered the genomic basis for the coevolution of wheat varieties with their habitats and food culture. This was achieved by studying the genomic architecture and footprints of Chinese wheat cultivars.

The research, conducted by scientists from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China Agricultural University, Murdoch University in Australia and other institutes, was published in the latest issue of the multidisciplinary science journal Nature.

This study focuses on developing a comprehensive pangenome of wheat and its application for improving wheat varieties, showcasing China's globally leading contribution to wheat research.

Wheat is the second-largest food crop in China, with a good breeding system and pedigree record. Investigating the genomic footprints of wheat cultivars has opened up potential avenues for future breeding efforts, which could assist China's wheat production.

The researchers have developed a wheat pangenome using newly assembled representative Chinese cultivars, revealing that the dynamic use of structural variations evolved alongside wheat habitats and food culture.

"To capture the genomic diversity of common wheat cultivars representing a breeding history spanning 70 years in China, we selected 17 cultivars for de novo (from the beginning) genome assembly," says Zhang Xueyong, a CAAS wheat scientist.

"This study provides valuable genetic resource information for future genomics-assisted breeding improvement in wheat," Zhang says.

Zhang adds that it also reveals the effects of different levels of structural variation on wheat adaptation and breeding, providing new perspectives and strategies for the integration and utilization of global germplasm resources to support future breeding.

According to Liu Xu, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the study will promote the research of crop germplasm resources in China to formally enter the era of big data and accelerate the research of mining and utilization of important genes.

This project unravels the "genetic code "behind wheat's environmental adaptations and quality formation. It will also provide important genomic support and theoretical guidance for intelligent design breeding, says Sun Qixin, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Xinhua