Researchers have unearthed a genetic ‘goldmine’ in a century-old collection of lost wheat samples, which could help solve the conundrum of feeding our increasingly populous planet.
A collaborative effort between scientists at the UK’s John Innes Centre (JIC) and the Agricultural Genomics Institute (AGI) in Shenzhen, China, revealed that as much as 60% of the genetic diversity found in historic wheat landraces is missing from modern varieties.
The discovery opens up opportunities for breeding new strains with better yields, lower emissions and – good news for beleaguered British farmers – improved slug resistance.
