Wheat Research Uncovers Clues for Improving Yields

Kansas State University研究人员继续解锁小麦基因组的复杂性，最近出版了一项研究的研究结果，这些研究表征了数千年前重复的许多基因，了解他们如何控制小麦产量和其他理想的特征。

小麦遗传学家Eduard Akhunov，主任K州小麦遗传资源中心, says his team’s research may lead to greater opportunities for breeders to perform “targeted breeding” that can increase grain size and number – ultimately increasing yields.

Akhunov says the researchers studied the role of gene copies available from each of the respective genomes in polyploid crops, those that contain more than two sets of chromosomes, in shaping main agronomic traits.

他补充说，面包小麦是多倍体，近10000年前形成了两种野生祖先的基因组：四倍体野生emmer小麦（其具有称为ab的基因甲型）和二倍体山甲草（与基因组配方D）。

“As a result, most genes in wheat exist in three copies, one from each of the A, B and D genomes” Akhunov explains.

“This gene redundancy creates a number of possibilities for interactions between genes and has, over time, contributed to new adaptations, making wheat capable of growing and producing grain in more diverse climatic conditions."

当前的研究

在目前的研究中，k状态researchers tested combinations of the gene copies to see what impact they would have on wheat’s growth and productivity.

“Normally, gene copies from each of (three) respective genomes in wheat are expressed in equal proportions,” Akhunov says.

“但我们found that there is a relatively small subset of genes where copies from different wheat genomes are expressed at different levels,” referred to as an imbalanced expression of genes.

The imbalanced expression of genes, he added, turned out to have a positive effect on the wheat plant, in many cases increasing grain size, weight and number.

“Our study suggests that over many years, breeders have been selecting combinations of imbalanced genes that positively impacted yield in diverse climatic environments,” Akhunov says.

Improving yields

Important for wheat growers: breeders could use this knowledge to develop new high-yielding wheat varieties capable of growing in a variety of climates.

根据一篇文章National Center for Biotechnology Information, polyploidy is a “major force in the evolution of both wild and cultivated plants.” Scientists believe polyploid organisms exhibit increased vigor and -- in some cases -- outperform their diploid relatives in several aspects.

K-State在该项目的工作总结于2月11日问题Nature Communications.

Akhunov says the research represents a large effort led by his research lab in collaboration with the小麦协调农业项目, and funded by the USDA国家粮食与农业研究所, and the比尔和梅琳达盖茨基金会。

The project was part of theInternational Wheat Yield Partnershipin which wheat researchers around the world are cooperating to find solutions to increase wheat yields.

阅读文章on the K-State Research and Extension website.

—丽莎砍刀