Integrated platforms for barley breeding and genetic research

This project aimed to discover new molecular diagnostics for use in barley breeding programmes. It exploited phenotypic data and high-density genetic marker data, generated by resequencing the germplasm assembled under the Association genetics of UK elite barley – AGOUEB project (AHDB Project Report 528). In AGOUEB, we assembled a vast collection of new and legacy phenotypic data and conducted preliminary genetic analyses. However, the initial AGOUEB work was of relatively low resolution (c. 1000 markers). As a result, the project lacked the highest level of informativeness. Additionally, most of the phenotypic data was not analysed optimally and remained unpublished.

This project had the following objectives:

1. To use a new high-density genetic marker dataset ( 2,100,000 SNP markers) to analyse phenotypic data initially assembled and analysed in AGOUEB.
2. To discover and provide the information required to convert diagnostic markers into breeder-friendly marker systems.
3. To publicise findings to the scientific and end-user communities.

Reanalysis of the phenotypic dataset, with the new high density marker set, represented a greater than 130 fold increase in genetic marker density. This allowed us to define genomic regions that contain genes responsible for 31 traits. We were also able to identify SNPs that are significantly associated with each of these traits. For each of these SNPs, putative sequences for KASP markers have been identified. We are pursuing serveral of these traits, with various collaborators, with the view to identify and characterise the casual genes.

The progress made in AGOUEB and this project marks a significant step forward in the ability to better track key barley traits through breeding programmes.