Wild barley (Hordeum brevisubulatum). [Andrew Bazdyrev/Wiki Creative Commons]
An international research team from Australia and China unveiled the first chromosome-scale genome of a wild barley species. The team believes its findings offer direct implications for more sustainable agriculture and significant yield improvements for Australian grain production.
Led by scientists from Murdoch University and the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences (BAAFS), the work on the wild barley Hordeum brevisubulatum, which has shown exceptional tolerance to alkaline and saline soils, is viewed as a significant leap forward in harnessing crop wild relatives (CWRs) to combat soil degradation and the increasing prevalence of extreme weather events.
Contributing authors from Murdoch University’s Western Crop Genetics Alliance and Murdoch University’s Center for Crop and Food Innovation inspect barley. L-R: Vanika Garg, PhD, Rajeev Varshney, PhD, Yong Jia, PhD, Tianhua He, PhD, and Chengdao Li, PhD. [Center for Crop and Food Innovation, Murdoch University]The study, “Hordeum I genome unlocks adaptive evolution and genetic potential for crop improvement,” published in Nature Plants, identified critical genetic adaptations, including the duplication of stress-response genes that enable efficient nutrient intake under alkaline stress. When overexpressed, these genes doubled in biomass and offered improved yields in harsh conditions.
The team also discovered that a fungal-derived gene previously known for disease resistance was found to reduce oxidative stress in saline-alkaline environments.
Following these findings, the researchers developed a new hexaploid crop, Tritordeum (AABBII), by replacing wheat’s “D” subgenome with H. brevisubulatum’s I genome. This new crop has exhibited a 48% increase in nitrate uptake and a 28% increase in grain yield under stress compared to conventional wheat.
“Our findings offer transformative potential for Australia’s agricultural sector, particularly in regions like Western Australia and South Australia where there is significant dryland soil salinity,” said Chengdao Li, PhD, professor, Center for Crop and Food Innovation, Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, director of the Western Crop Genetics Alliance, and corresponding author. “By breeding salinity-resistant grain crops, we can safeguard yields in drought-prone areas, reduce our costly reliance on fertilizers whilst maintaining productivity, and make a tangible step towards Australia’s 2030 sustainability targets.
“Additionally, the extraordinary resilience of H. brevisubulatum’s I genome equips us with genetic tools to future-proof staple crops against climate extremes, ensuring the competitiveness of our grains sector.”