International Research Team Unravels Wheat's Genetic Past to Transform its Future

A research team from Australia and China has uncovered important genetic and genomic information in the world's most comprehensive wheat genome sequencing and assembly project to date. The research reveals the evolution of wheat and offers a springboard for future genome references and global breeding programs.

The four-year study, co-led by scientists from the Centre for Crop and Food Innovation (CCFI) at Murdoch University, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and China Agricultural University (CAU), culminated in the assembly of 17 reference-grade genomes of wheat, resulting in the identification of 250,000 structural variations that determine environmental adaptation, disease resistance, and dietary preference. The study identified genes responsible for novel disease resistance and environmental adaption. 

Professor Rajeev Varshney, co-lead of the study and Director of CCFI said the work had resulted in the most detailed source for wheat genetic and genomic information, and offered fascinating insights into wheat's origins, its evolution and its influence on human culture. Professor Xue Yong Zhang, study co-lead from CAAS, said much was learned in relation to overall food culture and habits in China.

For more details, read the article in Murdoch University News.