Scientists in China claim to have provided an unprecedented glimpse into the adaptation and domestication of wheat. Two studies released by researchers in Shenzhen sequenced and analysed the genomes of two ancestral wheats to improve understanding of where and when key developments occurred in the domestication of wheat.

Researchers from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB) and Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) looked at grasses Triticum urartu and Aegilops tauschii in an attempt to better understand the biology of the world's primary staple crop, with a view to further improving varieties.

Wheat remains the world's most widely produced crop, suitable for cultivation in a wide range of climates. The researchers said they hope to improve genetic diversity, potentially leading to greater resistance to cold, drought and disease. However, they said the extremely large size and polyploid complexity of the wheat genome has proven a substantial barrier for researchers examining the biology and evolution of the plant.

Teams at IGDB looked at the genome of Bread wheat (T. aestivum, AABBDD), the progenitor of the Wheat A genome. They said their findings will prove useful in future breeding studies, identifying markers which could be implemented to improve wheat yield and increased understanding of wheat's development.

The second study looked at Tausch's goatgrass, which crossed with wheat around 8,000 years ago, resulting in a rare hybridisation, according to the Chinese researchers. The scientists conducting this study said it revealed yet more about the history of wheat and claimed their findings could lead to improvements in disease resistance, based on Ae. Tauschii's enhanced resistance.

They elaborated that a higher number of genes associated with resistance to stress were identified in Ae. tauschii (485) than sorghum (365), rice (333), Brachypodium (262) and maize (261). The family of genes (cytochrome P450) has been found to be important for certain stress responses.

Shancen Zhao, Project Manager of BGI, said, "Genetic improvement of crops is the key output of breeding research. The genomic data provides a valuable resource for botanists and breeders to comprehensively understand wheat's genetic diversity and evolutionary history. The two studies also represent a major step forward for improving this vital crop in the face of global climate change, growing human population, and bio-energy."

The scientists made their findings freely available, to help international efforts to improve crops. More information is available here from the BGI research institute.