Whole Genome Sequences of Wheat Bring a New Era of Gene Discovery and Breeding

Innovative breeding methods are required to improve the genetic gain of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var durum Desf.) to meet the global challenges resulting from a growing human population and environmental changes. Recently, NRGene technologies were critical in generating highly contiguous genome assemblies for “Zavitan” wild emmer wheat and “Svevo”, an elite Italian cultivar. In our wheat breeding programs at the University of Saskatchewan and AAFC, we are utilizing these assemblies, along with whole genome skim sequencing and exome sequencing to capture genetic variation in our tetraploid wheat breeding material. We have completed low coverage sequencing of multiple breeding lines and cultivars using 10X Chromium and Oxford Nanopore technologies, with the aim to characterize single nucleotide, copy number and presence/absence variation. In addition to identifying physical regions and gene candidates associated with phenotypic targets of selection, we are working to fully characterize resistance to insect and fungal pests and their underlying causes through transcriptome/exome sequencing. In combination, automated and high-throughput imaging technologies are being developed that will not only support functional annotation and gene discovery, but together with advances in computational biology, will reduce current phenotyping bottlenecks. We anticipate that integration of all these “omic” technologies will be instrumental for determining the underlying control of important traits that when applied to breeding improve our rates of genetic gain, and accelerate release of superior cultivars for durum wheat growers globally.