Scientists unravel "genetic code" behind wheat's environmental adaptations

BEIJING, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- A collaborative study between Chinese and Australian scientists has uncovered the genomic basis for the co-evolution 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 (CAAS), China Agricultural University, Murdoch University in Australia, and other institutes, was published in the latest issue of the journal Nature.

This study focuses on the development of 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, and it has a very 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 wheat production in China.

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

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

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

According to Liu Xu, an academician of 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 research unravels the "genetic code" behind wheat's wide range of environmental adaptations and quality formation. It will also provide important genomic support and theoretical guidance for intelligent design breeding, said Sun Qixin, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.