The International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC) has published
in Science a draft sequence of the bread wheat genome. The draft sequence
provides new insight into the structure, organization, and evolution of the
world's most widely grown cereal crop.

The consortium has established the first reference sequence for the largest
chromosome, 3B, which could serve as a template for sequencing the remaining
chromosomes. Catherine Feuillet, IWGSC co-chair, said "With the draft gene
sequence for each of the bread wheat chromosome and the first reference
sequence of chromosome 3B, we have reached a great milestone in our
roadmap."

With a chromosome-based full sequence in hand, plant breeders now have high
quality tools at their disposal to speed up breeding programs and identify
how genes control complex traits such as yield, grain quality, disease, pest
resistance, or abiotic stress tolerance. They will be able to produce a new
generation of wheat varieties with higher yields and improved sustainability
to meet the demands of a growing world population in a changing environment.


[www.wheatgenome.org]