Triticeae Genomics and Genetics, 2024, Vol.15, No.4, 206-220 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/tgg 206 Research Report Open Access Leveraging Genetic Diversity from Synthetics for Wheat Improvement ZhenLi Hainan Institute of Biotechnology, Haikou, 570206, Hainan, China Corresponding email: zhen.li@hibio.org Triticeae Genomics and Genetics, 2024, Vol.15, No.4 doi: 10.5376/tgg.2024.15.0020 Received: 14 Jun., 2024 Accepted: 20 Jul., 2024 Published: 02 Aug., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Li, 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: Li Z., 2024, Leveraging genetic diversity from synthetics for wheat improvement, Triticeae Genomics and Genetics, 15(4): 206-220 (doi: 10.5376/tgg.2024.15.0020) Abstract The genetic diversity inherent in synthetic hexaploid wheat (SHW) offers a promising avenue for enhancing wheat improvement programs. This research explores the utilization of SHW to introduce novel genetic variations into elite wheat cultivars, aiming to address challenges posed by climate change and ensure global food security. By leveraging the genetic diversity from SHW, significant improvements in agronomic performance, disease resistance, and grain quality have been achieved. The study highlights the successful introgression of beneficial alleles from SHW into modern wheat varieties, resulting in enhanced yield potential and adaptability to various stress conditions. The findings underscore the importance of synthetic wheats as a valuable genetic resource for breeding high-yielding, resilient wheat varieties. Keywords Synthetic hexaploid wheat; Genetic diversity; Wheat improvement; Disease resistance; Agronomic performance 1 Introduction Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of the most important staple food crops globally, providing a significant portion of daily caloric intake for millions of people. It accounts for approximately 20% of the calories consumed by humans worldwide (Brenchley et al., 2012). Wheat's adaptability to diverse climatic conditions and its ability to be stored for long periods make it a crucial crop for food security. However, the increasing global population, climate change, and environmental stresses pose significant challenges to wheat production (Li et al., 2021; Trono and Pecchioni, 2022). These factors necessitate continuous efforts to improve wheat yields and resilience to ensure sustainable food supplies. Genetic diversity is fundamental to the improvement of crop species, including wheat. It provides the raw material for breeding programs aimed at enhancing yield, disease resistance, and stress tolerance. Modern agricultural practices have led to a reduction in genetic diversity due to the high selection pressure on elite, high-yielding varieties (Trono and Pecchioni, 2022). This genetic erosion limits the potential for further improvements and adaptation to changing environmental conditions. Therefore, exploring and utilizing genetic diversity from various sources, including landraces and wild relatives, is essential for the development of robust and high-performing wheat cultivars (Winfield et al., 2017; Vindras-Fouillet et al., 2019). Synthetic wheat, created by crossing durum wheat (Triticum turgidum) with wild goat grass (Aegilops tauschii), offers a promising avenue for enhancing genetic diversity in wheat breeding programs. This approach reintroduces genetic variation that has been lost during the domestication and breeding of modern wheat varieties. Synthetic wheat has shown potential in improving traits such as disease resistance, abiotic stress tolerance, and yield (Li et al., 2021; Trono and Pecchioni, 2022). The integration of synthetic wheat into breeding programs can provide new alleles and gene combinations that are not present in current elite cultivars, thereby broadening the genetic base and enhancing the adaptability of wheat to future challenges (Winfield et al., 2017; Wamalwa et al., 2020). This study is to explore the potential of leveraging genetic diversity from synthetic wheat for the improvement of modern wheat cultivars. This involves identifying beneficial alleles and traits from synthetic wheat and incorporating them into breeding programs to enhance yield, stress tolerance, and disease resistance. The study will also assess the effectiveness of synthetic wheat in addressing the challenges posed by climate change and environmental stresses. By integrating advanced genomic tools and breeding techniques, this study aims to
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