Advances in genomics have expedited the improvement of several
agriculturally important crops but similar efforts in wheat
(/Triticum/spp.) have been more challenging. This is largely owing to
the size and complexity of the wheat genome, and the lack of
genome-assembly data for multiple wheat lines. Here we generated ten
chromosome pseudomolecule and five scaffold assemblies of hexaploid
wheat to explore the genomic diversity among wheat lines from global
breeding programs. Comparative analysis revealed extensive structural
rearrangements, introgressions from wild relatives and differences in
gene content resulting from complex breeding histories aimed at
improving adaptation to diverse environments, grain yield and quality,
and resistance to stresses. We provide examples outlining the utility of
these genomes, including a detailed multi-genome-derived
nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat protein repertoire involved in
disease resistance and the characterization of/Sm1/, a gene associated
with insect resistance. These genome assemblies will provide a basis for
functional gene discovery and breeding to deliver the next generation of
modern wheat cultivars.

Multiple wheat genomes reveal global variation in modern breeding |
Nature [www.nature.com]