Einkorn, still grown and consumed today, is a distant relative of modern bread wheat (Triticum aestivum). In Nature In the article, the researchers found that one percent of modern bread wheat originates from einkorn.
„Genome-sequencing insights from wild and domesticated accessions allow us to reconstruct the origin and evolution of einkorn,” said Dutla.
The research adds to a growing body of knowledge about wheat genetics, including other notable discoveries by University of Saskatchewan researchers. In 2020, a team led by Dr. Curtis Bosniak (PhD) of USask sequenced the genomes of 15 different wheat varieties. In that effort GIFS’ Dr. Includes contributions from Andrew Sharp (PhD) and its Omics and Precision Agriculture Laboratory (OPAL).
These and other discoveries help improve the efficiency of wheat breeding programs, allowing researchers and breeders to quickly identify useful genes and traits that can improve crop production and resilience.
„Einkorn, a diploid wheat species, represents a significant diversity and genetic reservoir for many useful traits for climate resilience, disease resistance and nutritional quality for applications in wheat breeding,” said Dutla.
The international team of scientists includes researchers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia, the European Research Council and the US Department of Agriculture’s National Food Institute. Agriculture.
