Application of pangenomics for wheat molecular breeding.

Abstract

Abstract This chapter discusses the application of pangenomics for molecular breeding of wheat. Pangenomes can be used by both researchers and breeders alike to develop elite wheat cultivars through the discovery and integration of genetic variations associated with agronomically beneficial traits. By providing a reference that accommodates for variation in individuals, variants whose presence and/or absence control abiotic stress resistance and yield can be identified. This tool has only become more informative as more wheat varieties are sequenced, new sequencing approaches such as long-read sequencing and genome mapping are utilized, and tools for pangenomic analysis are developed. With pangenomics, variable genes from wild wheat relatives and related species can be used to optimize wheat molecular breeding and develop improved varieties tailored for the changing global environment.