International Research Teams Decode Oats' Pangenome and Origin

In a breakthrough for agricultural science, an international team of researchers, led by the IPK Leibniz Institute in Germany, has successfully decoded the pangenome and pantranscriptome of the common oat (Avena sativa). Oats, prized globally for their health benefits, including high fiber and gluten-free properties, have a genome that is notoriously large and complex. This work provides a complete genetic map essential for accelerating the development of new, improved oat varieties.

The researchers established a detailed pangenome, sequenced and analysed the genomes of 33 different cultivated and wild oat lines, including genes present only in certain varieties. To create the transcriptome, they examined the gene expression patterns in six tissues and developmental stages of 23 of these oat lines. According to Dr. Martin Mascher, coordinator of the PanOat consortium, this genetic blueprint will help breeders better understand which genes are key for improving traits such as yield, adaptation, and health content in a climate-challenged world.

The deep genomic analysis also yielded surprising insights, such as finding a significant number of gene losses in one of the oat's three subgenomes, with the plant compensating by using other gene copies. Importantly, the researchers identified that structural variations within the genome affect the genes responsible for controlling flowering time, a critical trait for adapting crops to local growing conditions. The team's findings, which also included a second related study on the evolutionary origin of the oat, were published in Nature and Nature Communications.

For more details, read the press release from the IPK Leibniz Institute.