Combining Field Phenotyping and Next Generation Genetics to Uncover Markers, Genes and Biology Underlying Drought Tolerance in Wheat

This collaborative project, led by Prof. Anthony Hall (CGR, University of Liverpool), will make use of complementary leading research expertise in India and the UK and associated national infrastructures. In collaboration with international partners, previous work at the University of Liverpool has generated sequence data for the wheat genome, which has allowed us to develop new methods to rapidly uncover allelic variation in wheat. By combining this knowledge with a careful study of phenotypic performance under drought conditions it becomes possible to associate suites of genetic variation with improved drought tolerance. “Molecular marker" tools can now be built and used to rapidly select for wheat lines that are drought tolerant and also to pyramid multiple markers for trait combination. As a consortium of interdisciplinary research scientists from the UK and India, we plan to use this approach to identify molecular markers/genes associated with drought tolerance in wheat and lay the foundations of an accelerated breeding program to incorporate drought tolerance into Indian and UK wheat varieties.