1,721,435 research outputs found
The crop QTLome comes of age
No full textRecent progress in genomics and phenomics allows for a more accurate and comprehensive characterization of the Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) hereafter defined 'QTLome' as a whole that govern the variation targeted in breeding programs. High-density genotyping now provides unambiguous identification of QTL alleles, and for several traits beneficial alleles at major QTLs have already been deployed in marker-assisted breeding. However, the amount of QTLome information is enormous and approaches to distill and translate this information to breeders remain to be refined. Improved QTL meta-analyses, better estimation of QTL effects, improved crop modelling and full sharing of raw QTL data will enable a more effective exploitation of the QTLome
Sequence-Based Marker Assisted Selection in Wheat
Full text linkWheat improvement has traditionally been conducted by relying on artificial crossing of suitable parental lines followed by selection of the best genetic combinations. At the same time wheat genetic resources have been characterized and exploited with the aim of continuously improving target traits. Over this solid framework, innovations from emerging research disciplines have been progressively added over time: cytogenetics, quantitative genetics, chromosome engineering, mutagenesis, molecular biology and, most recently, comparative, structural, and functional genomics with all the related -omics platforms. Nowadays, the integration of these disciplines coupled with their spectacular technical advances made possible by the sequencing of the entire wheat genome, has ushered us in a new breeding paradigm on how to best leverage the functional variability of genetic stocks and germplasm collections. Molecular techniques first impacted wheat genetics and breeding in the 1980s with the development of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-based approaches. Since then, steady progress in sequence-based, marker-assisted selection now allows for an unprecedently accurate ‘breeding by design’ of wheat, progressing further up to the pangenome-based level. This chapter provides an overview of the technologies of the ‘circular genomics era’ which allow breeders to better characterize and more effectively leverage the huge and largely untapped natural variability present in the Triticeae gene pool, particularly at the tetraploid level, and its closest diploid and polyploid ancestors and relatives
Microsatellite analysis reveals a progressive widening of the genetic basis in the elite durum wheat germplasm
No full textIt has been argued that the level of genetic diversity in the modern durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) elite germplasm may have declined due to the high selection pressure applied in breeding programs. In this study, 58 accessions covering a wide spectrum of genetic diversity of the cultivated durum wheat gene pool were characterized with 70 microsatellite loci (or simple sequence repeats, SSRs). On average, SSRs detected 5.6 different allelic variants per locus, with a mean diversity index (DI) equal to 0.56, thus revealing a diversity content comparable to those previously observed with SSRs in other small-grain cereal gene pools. The mean genetic similarity value was equal to 0.44. A highly diagnostic SSR set has been identified. A high variation in allele size was detected among SSR loci, suggesting a different suitability of these loci for estimating genetic diversity. The B genome was characterized by an overall polymorphism significantly higher than that of the A genome. Genetic diversity is organised in well-distinct sub-groups identified by the corresponding foundation-genotypes. A large portion (92.7%) of the molecular variation detected within the group of 45 modern cvs was accounted for by SSR alleles tracing back to ten foundation-genotypes; among those, the most recent CIMMYT-derived founders were genetically distant from the old Mediterranean ones. On the other hand, rare alleles were abundant, suggesting that a large number of genetic introgressions contributed to the foundation of the well-diversified germplasm herein considered. The profiles of recently released varieties indicate that the level of genetic diversity present in the modern durum wheat germplasm has actually increased over time
Genomics Approaches to Dissect the Genetic Basis of Drought Resistance in Durum Wheat
No full textA better knowledge of the genetic basis of the mechanisms underlying the adaptive response to drought will be instrumental to more effectively deploy marker-assisted selection (MAS) to improve yield potential while optimizing water-use efficiency. Genomics approaches allow us to identify and clone the genes and QTLs that underlie the adaptive response of durum wheat to drought. Linkage and association mapping have allowed us to identify QTLs for traits that influence drought resistance and yield in durum and bread wheat. Once major genes and QTLs that affect yield under drought conditions are identified, their cloning provides a more direct path for mining and manipulating beneficial alleles. While QTL analysis and cloning addressing natural variation will increasingly shed light on mechanisms of adaptation to drought and other adverse conditions, more emphasis on approaches relying on resequencing, candidate gene identification, ‘omics’ platforms and reverse genetics will accelerate the pace of gene/QTL discovery. Genomic selection provides a valuable option to improve wheat performance under drought conditions without prior knowledge of the relevant QTLs. Modeling crop growth and yield based on the effects of major QTLs offers an additional opportunity to leverage genomics information. Although it is expected that genomics-assisted breeding will enhance the pace of durum wheat improvement, major limiting factors are how to (i) phenotype genetic materials in an accurate, relevant and high-throughput fashion and (ii) more effectively translate the deluge of molecular and phenotypic data into improved cultivars. A multidisciplinary effort will be instrumental to meet these challenges
Understanding and exploiting the genetics of plant root traits
No full textThis chapter illustrates how genomics and other -omics approaches coupled with new-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms have been deployed to dissect the genetic make-up of RSA traits and better understand their functions, particularly under environmentally constrained conditions that commonly occur in most farmed soils. The major emphasis is devoted to studies during the past two decades in crops and only occasional reference is provided to the vast literature from RSA studies conducted in Arabidopsis and other model plants. The chapter also provides examples on how, in some cases, this knowledge is already benefiting farmers and how it can help in reducing the environmental impact of agriculture worldwide.. Tuberosa, Roberto & Frascaroli, Elisabetta & Maccaferri, Marco & Salvi, Silvio. (2021). Understanding and exploiting the genetics of plant root traits. 10.19103/AS.2020.0075.21
Two decades of InterDrought conferences: Are we bridging the genotype-to-phenotype gap?
No full textThis special issue comprises a number of papers presented during the fourth InterDrought conference in Perth, Australia from 2 to 6 September 2013, the last of a unique conference series that began in Montpellier in 1995 with a focus on how to leverage interdisciplinary research in order to understand better the adaptive responses of plants to drought and how to use this knowledge for enhancing crop productivity under drought-prone conditions. This editorial highlights the main contributions presented by a selected number of invited speakers and offers a glimpse at the efforts to narrow the genotype-to-phenotype gap towards the release of drought-resistant cultivars..
Population structure and long-range linkage disequilibrium in a durum wheat elite collection
No full textA collection of 134 durum wheat accessions, mainly including cultivars (cvs.) representative of the major gene pools, was assembled and characterized with 70 SSRs for genetic diversity and level of long-range linkage disequilibrium (LD). Results of both a distance-based and a model-based (Bayesian) cluster analysis evidenced the presence of a structured diversity. In the model-based analysis, six to eight main distinct subpopulations were identified based on the molecular data. Only a relatively small portion (20%) of the molecular variation was accounted for by the geographical origin of the accessions. Major differences were detected between the North American and the Mediterranean cvs., while a considerable overlap characterized the cvs. from CIMMYT-ICARDA and Italy. The North American cvs. showed the highest within group mean genetic similarity (GSm = 0.68). French cvs. revealed sizeable similarities with both the North American as well as the Italian and CIMMYT-ICARDA pools. Considering the germplasm as a whole, high levels of LD were found both at locus pairs with an intrachromosomal distance <50 cM as well as at those with distances more than 50 cM and independent (86, 52 and 54% of SSR pairs at p < 0.01, respectively). After re-evaluating LD within each of the three main subgroups identified through the analysis of the germplasm structure, the LD level remained high for tightly to moderately linked locus pairs (<20 cM apart), but was greatly reduced in the loosely linked (more than 50 cM apart) and independent locus pairs. The implications of these findings as to the possibility of using association mapping for gene/QTL discovery in durum wheat are discussed
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