Alexandria, Egypt
April 9, 2008
Scientists working on barley
genome sequencing are aiming to complete it by 2012.
Prof Andreas Graner, Acting Director of the Leibniz Institute of
Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research in Germany, said that the
International Barley Sequencing Consortium (IBSC) consisting
of eight member laboratories in Australia, Japan, Finland,
Germany, United Kingdom and the United States is currently
working on sequencing the barley genome.
The consortium was set up in 2006 with the objective to
physically map and sequence the barley gene space, with the
near-term need being the identification of the remainder of
about 30,000 genes, including the 5’ and 3’ regulatory regions,
and the longer-term goal an ordered physical map linked to the
genetic map to accelerate crop improvement.
‘’Partners are providing active contribution toward sequencing
the barley genome, which is aimed to be completed by 2012,’’
said Prof Graner, who is attending the 10th International Barley
Genetics Symposium, organized by
the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry
Areas (ICARDA) and Bibilotheca Alexandrina.
The barley genome - with 5.3 billion letters of genetic code -
is one of the largest in cereal crops and twice the size of the
human genome. Barley is a true diploid, thus, it is a natural
archetype for genetics and genomics for the Triticeae tribe,
including rye and polyploid wheat. Highly collaborative
international efforts have produced a substantial body of
genetic and genomic resources in the past several years.
Prof Graner said sequencing the barley genome is important to
understand the genetic architecture of the plant. ‘’The better
we have deciphered the genome of the plant, the better will be
our understanding of its ability to produce more and its
resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.
Barley is cultivated in over 56 million hectares of land the
world over and is the fourth most planted cereal crop. Over the
last few years there has been a steady increase in barley and
scientists believe that with the increasing global temperatures
and the challenges posed by climate change, barley cultivation
would expand even more, as this crop grows in harsh climatic
conditions.
Besides being the staple food for the poor in parts of North
Africa, Central and South Asia, Barley is grown as a cash crop
in many developing countries and is used for malt production all
over the world.
‘’There is a demand for further increase in food, feed and
renewable energy sources. Our abilities to meet this demand
depend on how best we can make use of our biodiversity, which is
locked up in the genes. In this way genebanks like the one at
ICARDA will be able to further improve their contribution to the
world-wide utilization of the genetic resources by both
scientists and farmers, ‘’ said Prof Graner.
Prof Graner said that sequencing the barley genome would enhance
the use of biodiversity to meet the future needs of mankind.
’’Farmers will benefit by having improved varieties that can
produce more yield. It would also help reduce input of
fertilizers and chemical plant protection to facilitate more
sustainable agriculture,’’ he added.
Dr Udda Lundqvist of the Nordic Genetic Resource Center in
Alnarp, Sweden, and has been working on barley for nearly 59
years said that sequencing the genome would help develop
varieties that will have more resistance to salinity, drought
and diseases. |
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