Genomics Approach to Explore and Unlock Genetic Potential from Wheat Genebanks

The genetic diversity conserved in wheat genebanks worldwide represents the genetic heritage of this crop, its progenitors and wild relatives. These collections have a high probability to contain useful genes, alleles and haplotypes not captured in modern breeding germplasm. Molecular markers have been used to understand the diversity of plants; identify, track and select genomic regions contributing to specific traits. The evolution of increasingly cost efficient DNA marker platforms enable effective utilization of high density SNP markers in discovery and breeding applications. It is within this framework that International Wheat and Maize Improvement Center (CIMMYT), has in partnership with Diversity Arrays Technology established a high-throughput genotyping platform called SAGA (Genetic Analysis Service for Agriculture) under the umbrella of an ambitious Mexican Government funded initiative MasAgro. This platform, has to date generated millions of PAVs (presence/absence variation) SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphism) data points combining discovery and genotyping in one step using DArTSeq technology. SAGA has generated genomic profiles of approximately 40,000 accessions, ~28% of the wheat collection in the CIMMYT genebank. These materials include landraces, wild relatives, synthetics and elite wheat genotypes. In addition, a further 15,000 entries from breeding pipelines and a further 32,000 accessions from the ICARDA genebank have been characterized at SAGA. Genotypic data and associated passport and characterization/evaluation data is being made available in a searchable, publically accessible Wheat Molecular Atlas (www.seedsofdiscovery.org).