Published in Nature, the research offers groundbreaking insights into barley’s evolution and adaptation, including disease resistance, plant structure, and starch mobilization.
The research has unveiled groundbreaking insights into barley’s evolution and adaptation, including disease resistance, plant structure, and starch mobilization, according to a press release.
These findings hold significant promise for Scottish agriculture, where barley is a key crop supporting the iconic malt whisky industry. The study provides a foundation for developing barley varieties tailored to Scottish growing conditions and advancing sustainable farming practices.
Scientists from the International Barley Hub (IBH) at the James Hutton Institute played a pivotal role in sequencing 76 wild and cultivated barley genomes. The IBH operates within the newly opened Crop Innovation Centre, part of a £62 million investment from the Tay Cities Region Deal (TCRD) funded by the UK and Scottish Governments.
Led by the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), the study focused on barley’s pan-genome—the complete set of genetic sequences within the species.
“This pangenome provides a powerful new tool for understanding barley’s species-wide genetic diversity at unprecedented resolution,” said Dr. Micha Bayer, a senior scientist at the James Hutton Institute. “It will accelerate our ability to develop more resilient and productive barley varieties.”
Read full details about the project the International Barley Hub (IBH) site.
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