The DivSeek International Thematic Hub for Global Durum aims to use the ongoing phenotyping and genotype data of the Global Durum Panel (GDP) -a breeding-dedicated collection of 1033 single seed descendent purified accessions, and the Tetraploid Wheat Global Collection (TGC) -an evolutionary collection of 1,856 single seed descent purified accessions, as a case study for the management of genetic resources and dissemination of genetic knowledge by providing the framework for collecting all data that will be made publicly available and through a dedicated website, linked to internationally recognized repositories such as GrainGenes and ENSEMBL-Plants; as well as monitor the use of the two collections. Global-Durum is inter-connected with the activities of the Expert Working Group on Durum Wheat Genomics and Breeding established within Wheat Initiative.
Co-leads: Luigi Cattivelli; CREA Research Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics; Italy ; Filippo Bassi, ICARDA, Morocco and Roberto Tuberosa,University of Bologna, Italy
Presentation slides (.pdf) from DivSeek AGM 2022, and video of presentation (starts from 1hr02m)
2021 update on Activities:
- Global-Durum translates into a DivSeek Pilot Hub the output of the major activities carried out by the Expert Working Group on Durum Wheat Genomics and Breeding (EWG-DWGB) of the Wheat Initiative, hence linking both initiatives.
- In recent years, the durum wheat community has carried out a coordinated effort to assemble and make publicly available two germplasm collections representing the largest native, molecularly profiled diversity of tetraploid wheat and conceived for different, complementary purposes.
- A first network of scientists interested to evaluate the GDP has been organized and about 40 copies of the GDP have been distributed worldwide.
- Several phenotyping activities (mainly field based) have taken place in 2020.
- A survey of the main phenotyping results is in progress and will be completed before the end of 2020.
- An action for a global analysis of phenotypic data will be organized.
- A general agreement has been taken within the partners interested in the GDP to collectively analyse the basic adaptation traits (flowering time, plant height), while additional phenotyping analysis will be carried out case by case.
- Through the contacts and the activities carried out during the work for the organization of the GDP, Global Durum has intercepted all major durum wheat genomics/breeding institutions, this long-lasting experience of collaboration will be used to develop a more formalized Hub.
In future:
- Organize the GDP in a standard GERMINATE database, this activity is under development thank to a collaboration with the GERMINATE Pilot Hub.
- Develop a global analysis of phenotypic data describing the adaptation of durum wheat.