By Andi Anderson
Scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have received a four-year grant of $795,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to study a new genetic model aimed at improving crop breeding.
The research focuses on connecting quantitative and molecular genetics to better understand complex traits like crop yield and grain quality.
Led by Professor Alex Lipka, the team believes that traditional models used in crop breeding are outdated, relying on theories from 1918.
These older models do not account for the many advancements made in molecular biology since then. Lipka aims to incorporate modern understanding through a new genetic framework known as the omnigenic model.
The omnigenic model classifies genes into two groups: core genes and peripheral genes. Core genes directly influence traits like plant height or grain size, while peripheral genes affect these traits indirectly by influencing core genes through cellular processes.
While the effects of individual peripheral genes are small, their combined impact can be significant.
Lipka and collaborator Geoffrey Morris from Colorado State University will develop statistical methods to test the omnigenic model in crops such as Arabidopsis and sorghum, a climate-resilient crop crucial in food-insecure regions.
Their research aims to improve breeding tools by integrating peripheral genes into genetic models, potentially leading to the selection of high-yield, climate-resilient crop varieties.
The team plans to run simulations to test the omnigenic model and create a new software package that can be used by other researchers in the field.
If successful, this project could revolutionize the way plant breeders select crops, helping to meet the challenges of climate change and rising food demand.
By advancing genetic tools, this research has the potential to benefit global agriculture by helping farmers breed crops more efficiently and improve food security worldwide.
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Categories: Illinois, Education