ShaoMin Yang

Hainan Institute of Biotechnology, Haikou, 570206, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Triticeae Genomics and Genetics, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 3   
Received: 25 Apr., 2024    Accepted: 28 May, 2024    Published: 10 Jun., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important staple crops globally, providing a significant portion of the daily caloric intake for millions of people. The primary goal of this study is to harness the genetic diversity present in exotic germplasm to improve wheat varieties. This involves identifying and mobilizing useful genetic variations from germplasm banks into breeding programs to enhance traits such as drought and heat tolerance, yield, and overall adaptability to changing environmental conditions. The study revealed significant genetic diversity in synthetic hexaploids, landraces, and elite wheat varieties. Notably, thousands of new SNP variations were discovered in landraces adapted to drought and heat stress environments, which can be utilized to enrich elite germplasm with novel alleles for these traits. The use of non-denaturing fluorescence in situ hybridization (ND-FISH) allowed for the identification of chromosomal polymorphisms and genetic diversity among various wheat lines, providing cytological information for the rational utilization of wheat germplasm resources. Additionally, the introgression of Aegilops tauschii genome into wheat was shown to enrich the wheat germplasm pool, offering new genetic variations for breeding. The study also highlighted the potential of wild emmer wheat diversity to improve wheat adaptation to heat stress through the identification of quantitative trait loci associated with heat tolerance. The findings underscore the importance of utilizing exotic germplasm to broaden the genetic base of wheat breeding programs. By integrating novel alleles from diverse germplasm sources, it is possible to develop high-yielding, stress-tolerant wheat varieties that can better withstand the challenges posed by climate change. This approach promises to enhance the resilience and productivity of wheat, ensuring food security in the face of global environmental changes.

Wheat improvement; Genetic diversity; Exotic germplasm; Drought tolerance; Heat tolerance; Breeding programs; SNP variations; Aegilops tauschii; Wild emmer wheat