Triticeae Genomics and Genetics, 2024, Vol.15, No.3, 152-161 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/tgg 152 Research Report Open Access Harnessing Genetic Diversity for Wheat Improvement Using Exotic Germplasm ShaoMin Yang Hainan Institute of Biotechnology, Haikou, 570206, Hainan, China Corresponding email: shaomin.yang@hibio.org Triticeae Genomics and Genetics, 2024, Vol.15, No.3 doi: 10.5376/tgg.2024.15.0015 Received: 25 Apr., 2024 Accepted: 28 May., 2024 Published: 10 Jun., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Yang, 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. Preferred citation for this article: Yang S.M., 2024, Harnessing genetic diversity for wheat improvement using exotic germplasm, Triticeae Genomics and Genetics, 15(3): 152-161 (doi: 10.5376/tgg.2024.15.0015) Abstract Wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) 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. Keywords Wheat improvement; Genetic diversity; Exotic germplasm; Drought tolerance; Heat tolerance; Breeding programs; SNP variations; Aegilops tauschii; Wild emmer wheat 1 Introducion Genetic diversity is a crucial component for the improvement of any crop, including wheat (Triticum aestivumL.). It provides the raw material for breeding programs to develop new varieties that can withstand biotic and abiotic stresses, thereby ensuring food security in the face of climate change and growing population demands. Studies have shown that the genetic diversity within elite wheat cultivars is limited, which restricts the potential for further improvements (Feuillet et al., 2008; Sehgal et al., 2015). The exploitation of genetic diversity from various sources, including landraces and wild relatives, has been identified as a key strategy for sustaining crop genetic improvement (Sehgal et al., 2015; Upadhyay et al., 2020; Kumar et al., 2022). Exotic germplasm, which includes landraces, wild relatives, and other non-cultivated gene pools, holds a wealth of genetic variation that is often absent in modern elite cultivars. This genetic variation can be harnessed to introduce novel alleles for traits such as drought and heat tolerance, disease resistance, and improved nutritional content (Sehgal et al., 2015; Ceoloni et al., 2017; Govindaraj et al., 2020). For instance, synthetic hexaploids and landraces have been found to possess higher genetic diversity indices compared to elite cultivars, making them valuable resources for pre-breeding programs (Sehgal et al., 2015). The use of advanced breeding techniques, such as chromosome engineering and molecular markers, has facilitated the incorporation of beneficial genes from exotic germplasm into cultivated wheat varieties (Feuillet et al., 2008; Ceoloni et al., 2017; Wang et al., 2017).
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