DArT™ and DArTseq™ Genome Profiling for Breeding, Pre-Breeding and Population Genetics Applications

Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT™) was developed over a decade ago to enable crop breeding with utilisation of whole genome profile information. In the last four years we have launched a new service using DArT complexity reduction methods combined with Next Generation Sequencing platforms. DArTseq technology scans over 100,000 loci for DNA variation targeting primarily genic regions. DArTseq integrates silico-DArT markers (based on SNP and methylation variation) with “traditional” SNP markers on the fragments detected in genomic representations. Both technology platforms (array-based DArT and DArTseq™) have been applied to over 175 organisms, dominated by crop plants and forestry species but with an increasing number of animals and microorganisms.

We will present a number of examples of the application of DArT and DArTseq to crop breeding and genetics. Apart from a very broad diversity scans we will present our genetic mapping work and integration of DArT/DArTseq markers with genomics resources. A few examples of applying DArTseq to Genomic Selection will be discussed.  We will also present our analytical pipeline for linking genome profiles with phenotypic data as well as our new information technologies for data storage and management.