Einkorn, an ancient grain with a rich history dating back over 10,000 years, was once a crucial part of global food production. However, as bread wheat gained popularity, the cultivation of einkorn declined. With concerns about the reduced genetic diversity and resilience of modern bread wheat, scientists have turned to einkorn as a potential source of genetic secrets to develop more resilient varieties.
A team of researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia has successfully mapped the complete genome of einkorn, providing valuable insights into the evolutionary origins of different wheat species. Their goal is to help farmers and crop breeders worldwide, including Europe, develop bread wheat varieties that can adapt to climate change and combat new disease threats.
Simon Krattinger, co-leader of the study, explains that bread wheat has a reduced genetic diversity compared to its wild cousins like einkorn, as breeders selected for the best performing cultivars. While this reduction may not be inherently negative, genetic diversity serves as the raw material or building blocks for breeding. Some advantageous genes may have been lost in the bread wheat gene pool, making it crucial to reintroduce beneficial genes from einkorn.
The researchers have analyzed the genetic diversity of over 200 wild and domesticated einkorn lines, providing valuable resources for scientists and breeders to identify beneficial genes in einkorn and transfer them to bread wheat. These genes may include traits such as disease resistance or adaptation to climate change, and many plant breeding programs already incorporate DNA sequencing information to enhance their breeding efforts.
Contrary to previous assumptions, the evolution of wheat is a complex process that involves mixing and gene flow between different wheat species. Close proximity between einkorn and other wheat varieties has led to DNA mixing, evident in the modern bread wheat genome. Einkorn genes may have played a role in helping bread wheat adapt to changing climatic conditions in the past, and with modern molecularly guided breeding techniques, these beneficial genes can be precisely transferred from einkorn to bread wheat.
In conclusion, the study on einkorn genomics sheds light on the evolutionary history of the oldest domesticated wheat and offers potential solutions for enhancing the resilience and adaptability of bread wheat in the face of global challenges. The research findings provide valuable insights for the food and beverage industry, particularly in terms of trends, manufacturing, processing technology, distribution, innovation, sustainability, regulations, packaging, marketing, and consumer trends.
Reference:
“Einkorn genomics sheds light on evolutionary history of the oldest domesticated wheat”
Nature
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06389-7