Quantifying Aegilops tauschii Contributions to Wheat Performance Project Summary: Approximately half of the 2026 Texas A&M AgriLife advanced wheat breeding lines contain introgressions from Aegilops tauschii, derived either through direct introgression or via synthetic hexaploid wheat. The deliberate incorporation of Ae. tauschii germplasm was intendedto broaden the genetic diversity of the breeding program; however, all […]
Wild Relative Introgression Toolbox: Unlocking homoeologous recombination for accelerated gene transfer into wheat Project Summary: Modern wheat breeding has significantly narrowed the genetic diversity of elite cultivars, limiting resilience against rapidly evolving biotic and abiotic stresses. Wild relatives of wheat harbor valuable alleles for disease resistance, pest tolerance, yield stability, heat tolerance, drought tolerance, and […]
Root System Architecture Trait Discovery in Wild Relative Introgression Germplasm Project Summary: Root system architecture (RSA) traits can improve wheat performance in drought prone environments and represent vital targets for breeding. This project will screen novel WGRC wild relative introgression lines (ILs) for root system architecture (RSA), root hair (RH) traits, and coleoptile length. Rapid, […]
Harnessing Wild Wheat Root and Coleoptile Traits for DroughtResilient Wheat Project Summary: Drought is a major constraint to US (and global) wheat production, and breeding varieties with improved performance under water limitation is urgently needed. While both spring and winter wheat growth is affected by drought, some of the challenges are unique to winter wheat. […]
Evaluating the Genetic Effects of Two Aegilops tauschii Introgressions Enriched in Elite Drought-Adapted Wheat lines Project Summary: Heat and drought stress continue to threaten wheat production across the U.S. Southern and Central Plains, and the 2025 to 2026 season has shown how quickly conditions can worsen. Large areas of Kansas, eastern Colorado, and the Texas […]
Mobilizing WGRC Germplasm to Accelerate Durable Resistance to the Wheat Streak Mosaic Disease in Wheat Project Summary: Diseases caused by Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) and Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV) are major constraints to wheat production in the U.S. Great Plains, including recent severe outbreaks in Kansas. Previous evaluations of WGRC germplasm have identified promising […]
Exploring New Sources of Wheat Curl Mite Resistance Project Summary: Wheat curl mite (WCM) and its transmitted viruses significantly impact wheat production in the Great Plains. Host plant resistance to WCM is an efficient and sustainable approach to suppress virus transmission and reduce losses of grain yield, forage, and silage. Alien introgression lines are important […]
Developing virus and vector tolerance in wheat by characterizing virus and vector interactions in WGRC germplasm Project Summary: The wheat streak mosaic disease (WSMD) complex is one of the most damaging disease systems affecting wheat production across the US Great Plains and beyond. WSMD is caused by wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), Triticum mosaic virus […]
Multi-Environment Screening of Wild Wheat Introgression Lines for Reaction to Wheat Stem Sawfly Project Summary: Wheat stem sawfly (WSS; Cephus cinctus Norton) has historically been confined to the northern United States’ great plains region and southern Canada, yet due to shifts in weather over time, WSS has become a pernicious and progressively worsening pest across […]
We are mobilizing genetic diversity to enhance wheat yields and meet food security needs. Without genetic diversity, breeders will be unable to make the progress necessary to feed future generations. It is the key to delivering varieties to farmers with the “genetic grit” to fight devastating disease, destructive pests, and severe climates. The WGRC IUCRC […]
Root phenotyping of synthetic hexaploidy wheat lines for drought-tolerance Project Summary: Root growth phenotype is extremely important under drought since varieties with deeper root systems can avoid low moisture stress. The ability to harness the root zone moisture not only affects photosynthesis through transpiration but also nutrient acquisition, which has a direct impact on photosynthetic […]
Assessing end-use quality traits in winter wheat germplasm with novel seed storage protein introgressions from diploid and tetraploid wild relatives Project Summary: Breadmaking and milling properties of wheat are defined by low molecular weight (LMW) and high molecular weight (HMW) glutenins and gliadins. The main goal of this project is to broaden genetic diversity of […]
Novel genetics stocks for chromosome-wide enhancement of genetic recombination Project Summary: Gene introgression from distant wild relatives into wheat is suppressed by the Ph1 gene, which inhibits homoeologous chromosome pairing and recombination between wheat and wild relative genomes. Though Ph1b deletion allows for increased genetic recombination, the frequency remains too low for effective gene transfer. […]
Sharp roots – Gaining improved root penetration ability of hard and dry soils from wild ancestors of wheat into modern wheat cultivars Project Summary: Drought is one of the largest yield limiting factors in global crop production including wheat. Changing climate is predicted to increase the intensity and frequency of drought events which further jeopardizes […]
Using plant genetics to modulate the human gut microbiome Project Summary: Dietary modulation of the gut microbiota to improve human health represents an exciting opportunity to devise entirely new approaches for disease prevention. As a staple food in the American diet, wheat offers an ideal vehicle for impacting the gut microbiome in targeted, desirable ways […]
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