k-mer-based approaches to unlock genebank genomics for targeted crop improvement.
Backhaus AE, Quiroz-Chavez J, Dreisigacker S, Cavalet-Giorsa E, Uauy C
Crop Improvement
The seeds locked away in genebanks around the world may hold the genetic keys to keeping your favorite fruits and vegetables viable as droughts, heat waves, and new pests reshape growing conditions — and this new approach makes it practical to find and use those keys.
Seed banks store thousands of old and wild crop varieties, but it's been hard to know which ones contain useful traits for breeding better plants. Researchers are now using a computer-based approach that reads DNA like a puzzle, breaking it into tiny overlapping chunks to spot unique genetic variations that modern crops have lost. This makes it much easier to pick the right seed bank samples to breed crops that can survive a changing climate.
Key Findings
K-mer-based bioinformatics can detect functional genetic diversity in genebank collections that is entirely absent from modern elite crop varieties.
The approach enables precise identification of specific allele and haplotype variants across large collections of thousands of accessions, something previously impractical at scale.
Incorporating genebank diversity into breeding pipelines is increasingly recognized as a crucial strategy for developing climate-resilient cultivars.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists are using a computational technique called k-mer analysis to scan massive seed bank collections and find hidden genetic diversity in crop plants that has been lost from modern farming varieties. This could help breeders develop more climate-resilient crops by tapping into forgotten traits preserved in genebanks.
Abstract Preview
Genebanks have a vital role in safeguarding plant genetic resources and providing access to valuable genetic diversity that is absent from modern breeding gene pools. Yet, a major challenge for usi...
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