genomics
Sequencing completed The world of genomics just got a whole lot richer, with scientists completing sequencing for not one but two crop genomes.
A
remained attached to the stalk; it is this trait that
technology that utilises DNA and protein links. As
enabled humans to harvest wheat.”
noted by co-author Dr Nils Stein, from the Leibniz
“This new resource allowed us to identify a
Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research,
number of other genes controlling main traits
“It was originally tested in humans and recently
global team of researchers has
that were selected by early humans during wheat
demonstrated in barley, both of which have smaller
published the first-ever wild emmer wheat
domestication and that served as foundation for
genomes than wild emmer wheat.”
genome sequence. Wild emmer is the original
developing modern wheat cultivars,” added Dr
“This sequencing approach used for wild
form of nearly all the domesticated wheat in
Eduard Akhunov of Kansas State University, a
emmer wheat is unprecedented and has paved the
the world, including durum (pasta) and bread
co-author on the study. “These genes provide an
way to sequence durum wheat (the domesticated
wheat. Wild emmer is too low-yielding to be
invaluable resource for empowering future breeding
form of wild emmer),” said co-author Dr Luigi
of use to farmers today, but it contains many
efforts. Wild emmer is known as a source of novel
Cattivelli, head of the CREA Research Centre for
characteristics that are being used by plant
variation that can help to improve the nutritional
Genomics and Bioinformatics and coordinator
breeders to improve wheat.
quality of grain as well as tolerance to diseases and
of the International Durum Wheat Genome
water-limiting conditions.”
Sequencing Consortium. “Now we can better
The study was published in the journal Science and led by Dr Assaf Distelfeld of Tel Aviv University,
“New genomic tools are already being
understand how humanity transformed this
Israel, in collaboration with international scientists
implemented to identify novel genes for wheat
wild plant into a modern, high-yielding and
and Israel-based company NRGene. According to
production improvement under changing
high-quality crop.”
Dr Distelfeld, NRGene’s bioinformatics technology
environment,” added co-author Dr Zvi Peleg
enabled the researchers to create a “time tunnel”
of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. “While
Mutant rice
that they could use to examine wheat from before
many modern wheat cultivars are susceptible to
News of the wheat sequencing came just one
the origins of agriculture.
water stress, wild emmer has undergone a long
day after US scientists reported the first whole-
“Our comparison to modern wheat has
evolutionary history under the drought-prone
genome sequenced fast-neutron induced mutant
enabled us to identify the genes involved in
Mediterranean climate. Thus, utilisation of the
population of Kitaake, a model rice variety that
domestication — the transition from wheat grown
wild genes in wheat breeding programs promotes
completes its life cycle in just nine weeks and is
in the wild to modern-day varieties,” Dr Distelfeld
producing more yield for less water.”
not sensitive to photoperiod changes. Scientists
explained. “While the seeds of wild wheat readily
For the first time, the sequences of the 14
are investigating this variety as part of their
fall off the plant and scatter, a change in two genes
chromosomes of wild emmer wheat have been
work to optimise crops for biofuel production,
meant that in domesticated wheat, the seeds
collapsed into a refined order, thanks to additional
seeking to identify genes that control key traits
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