A team from CSIC and the University of Granada shows that the repeated DNA sequences in wheat chromosomes determine their ability to associate, which is key to ensure their fertility.
Researchers from the Institute of Sustainable Agriculture (IAS) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the University of Granada have developed the first flour wheat satellite, the genetic map of repeated DNA sequences, also known as satellite DNA, an important advance towards the development of wheat varieties more resistant to global warming.
Wheat is one of the most important crops worldwide. It accounts for 20% of the calories consumed daily and is an important source of protein. In a global warming scenario, it is necessary to develop better adapted wheat varieties to preserve fertility and increase the sustainable production of this crop.
Understanding the organization of the wheat genome is key in the field of plant breeding. In particular, it is very important to generate knowledge about the processes of wheat reproductive biology, such as meiosis, the cell division that generates gametes in sexually reproducing organisms. Meiosis is a fundamental process because it ensures fertility and, therefore, plant production. During meiosis, chromosomes recognize each other and associate in pairs so that the gametes are viable and the plants are fertile and therefore produce grain.
The work developed by IAS researchers is important to understand how chromosomes recognize each other and associate during meiosis. “Thus we can contribute to develop tools that facilitate chromosomal manipulation and gene transfer from one species to another and develop wheat varieties better adapted to high temperatures or water scarcity in a scenario of global warming,” explains IAS-CSIC researcher Pilar Prieto.
