Sequencing the wheat genome
(21/07/2008)
|
| ©
INRA, Jean-Marie Bossennec |
The TriticeaeGenome project, coordinated by INRA Clermont-Ferrand, launched on 11 June 2008, brings together top European laboratories for wheat and barley research with the goal to encourage the development of new varieties. This programme is part of the international project launched in 2005 to sequence the bread wheat genome, in which INRA plays a major role. Cereals are the staple food for a majority of humans and animals and an important component of plant chemistry. The development of cutting-edge research in the genomics of straw cereals from the Triticeae family (wheat, barley and rye) is necessary for more efficient selection methods and addressing the challenges of self-sufficient and sustainable agriculture, adapted to the needs of the 21st century.
|
Ambitious research in which INRA has been conducting a pilot study since 2005
As the world’s leading cereal crop and a staple food for one third of the world’s population, wheat is an economic and cultural priority. The sequencing of the wheat genome, which is five times the size of the human genome and forty times that of rice, will be conducted through an international consortium. INRA is participating in and helping to lead the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC), which was established in 2005 to facilitate and coordinate international efforts toward obtaining the complete sequence of the bread wheat genome. The consortium will ensure that the sequence and resources resulting from it will be available to all without restriction or cost. It is open to any individual, laboratory, or entity that can contribute to the project and that agrees to comply with the spirit of the project. More than 21 countries are already involved. The IWGSC is governed by an executive director based in the United States and a Coordinating Committee that consists of representatives from laboratories involved in the project. The co-chairs of the Committee are from the United States, Australia and France. France’s representative is Catherine Feuillet, a Research Director at INRA, Clermont-Ferrand.
As part of the consortium, the joint research unit "Genetics, Diversity and Ecophysiology of Cereals" (INRA-Université Blaise Pascal) has been conducting since the end of 2004 a pilot project to study the structure, function and evolution of the wheat genome using one chromosome (3B) as a model. The establishment of a physical map and the sequencing of the genic regions of chromosome 3B, which alone is twice as large as the rice genome, have just been finished and the first structural, functional and evolutionary studies have been carried out. This pilot study has made it possible to demonstrate the feasibility of a specific chromosome approach to tackle this gigantic genome and similar projects have been launched on other chromosomes at the international level.
| |
 |
| |
© INRA, Catherine Feuillet
|
Improved understanding of a key plant for the world
The first objective of the project is to develop a physical map that is anchored to the genetic map. A physical map will greatly accelerate the map-based isolation of a number of genes of agricultural interest that have been identified in common wheat (bread wheat) and will set up the foundation for future sequencing of the genome. Sequencing consists in deciphering the information encoded by the genes present in each wheat chromosome to allow for the subsequent identification of the biological function of each gene. This will contribute to better knowledge of the biology of the wheat plant and will enable yield and quality improvements that are needed to meet the challenge of feeding a growing world population in a sustainable and environmentally-sound manner, marked by major climate and sociological changes.
This project is also the first sequencing project of a polyploid plant species. While most plants and animals are diploid, that is, their cells contain two sets of chromosomes, bread wheat is hexaploid (consisting of three complete diploid genomes). Polyploidy is a common phenomenon in eukaryote (plants having more than 90% of species presenting various levels of polyploidy) genome evolution where it played an important role in diversification and genetic variability. Sequencing the bread wheat genome will also provide a better understanding of the role of polyploidy in the evolution of species.
Launch of the TriticeaeGenome European research project
The dynamic created by the international consortium has also led to the setting up of the European Triticeae Genomics (ETGI) network of collaborations between European laboratories involved in straw cereal genomics which has led to the TriticeaeGenome project. Fifteen research organisations and 2 industrial partners are involved in the 7.5 million euro project, 5.3 million of which was funded by the EU over a 4-year period as part of the 7th Research Framework Programme. The mission-oriented goal of this programme is the development of new improved varieties, through the development of knowledge and tools required to effective isolation of agriculturally-relevant genes and to the development of markers for European selection programmes. The TriticeaeGenome project will more exactly consist in:
- constructing the physical maps of six soft wheat and barley chromosomes containing agriculturally-relevant genes, according to the approach developed for the bread wheat chromosome 3B in Clermont-Ferrand;
- isolating five genes that are behind resistance to drought and major fungal diseases, yield and quality;
- displaying a molecular selection programme and setting up informatics tools to manage, use and disseminate the project’s results.
Data transfer will be coordinated with other ongoing international projects, and the teams will collaborate with numerous partners using an external interface. So while contributing to establishing the bases of the future sequencing of the wheat and barley genomes, this integrated project will provide resources for scientists to meet the challenges of agriculture.
For more information:
> read the press release of 11 June 2008
|
See also
Search:
