Plant breeders rely on the generation and selection of novel gene combinations to generate new varieties with favourable traits. The mixing of genes derived from two parental lines is called recombination. Little is known about how the sites for recombination are selected.

Here we aim to investigate this process in the UK’s most important crop; wheat. To do this we will use the latest molecular techniques to identify and characterise the sites where recombination occurs in wheat. Our strategy could lead to new methods being developed to augment the endogenous recombination system. Successful completion of the project will allow breeders to manipulate recombination and generate novel combinations of genes not usually seen in standard wheat crosses. Such an ability to influence recombination has the potential to revolutionise wheat breeding.

Project lead: Professor Keith Edwards (wheat genomics, marker technology and recombination)

Project team: Professor Julian Gough (protein structure and disorder, sequence snalysis); Professor Ian Day (genetic epidemiology) and Dr Gary Barker (bioinformatics)