The diversity of plant genetic resources provides plant breeders with the opportunity to develop new and improved varieties with desirable characteristics, including traits preferred by farmers (yield potential and large seeds, etc.) and traits preferred by breeders (resistance to pests, diseases, and photosensitivity etc.). From the earliest days of agriculture, people have exploited the natural genetic variation of crop species to meet subsistence food needs, and now it is focused on providing surplus food for a growing population. However, it is currently unclear how genetic diversity is developed to maximize genetic potential for human needs. Understanding the genomic changes used in crop breeding programs to establish elite varieties will drive genetic diversity to develop new varieties to meet future needs. The use of molecular genetic methods in the assessment of conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources has increased significantly in recent years. Molecular techniques have been applied to the analysis of specific genes, as well as to improve understanding of gene action, generate genetic maps, and assist in the development of gene transfer technologies. Molecular techniques also play a key role in the study of phylogeny and species evolution and have been applied to increase our understanding of the distribution and extent of genetic variation within and between species.
Fig. 1. Illustration of the spatial and temporal changes (solid line and some highlight in red) in crop genetic diversity generated by modern plant breeding with variable goals and methods. (Fu et al., 2015)
Our genetic diversity assessment solution
The improvement of crop genetic resources depends on the continuous introduction of wild relatives, traditional varieties, and the use of modern breeding techniques. All of these processes require some level of diversity assessment to select resistant and high-yielding varieties. As a leading provider of agricultural genomics, CD Genomics offers specialized solutions for assessing genetic diversity in crop breeding.
Our researchers assess genetic diversity within and between populations at the molecular level using a variety of laboratory-based techniques, such as chemical or DNA analysis that directly measures the level of variation. We also use morphological and biochemical traits and assessments to measure genetic diversity. CD Genomics offers several strategies for assessing genetic diversity in crop breeding, including but not limited to:
Molecular markers based on restriction hybridization techniques
We offer restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) to compare the genomes of major cereal families such as rye, wheat, maize, sorghum, barley, and rice. This method is relatively polymorphic, co-dominant, highly reproducible, and allows for simultaneous screening of a large number of samples.
We offer Rapid Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) to detect dominant traits of interest, which is fast, simple, inexpensive and can generate multiple loci using a single primer. Our Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) technology is highly reproducible, identifying polymorphisms and determining associations by analyzing individuals in isolated populations. We offer microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) as genetic markers, which have co-dominant inheritance, high abundance, a large degree of allelic diversity, ease of assessment of SSR size variation by PCR through flanking primer pairs, and high reproducibility.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)
SNPs are most abundant in the genomes of most organisms, including plants, and are widely dispersed throughout the genome, with differences in distribution between species. We offer SNP detection for the rapid identification of crop varieties and the construction of ultra-high-density genetic maps. Using strategies based on genetic mapping or linkage genetics studies, our SNP assays can provide valuable markers for the study of agronomic or adaptive traits in plant species.
Diversity array technology (DArT)
DArT is a versatile and cost-effective genotyping technology. We offer DArT to simultaneously key thousands of loci in a single assay, making it particularly suitable for genotyping polyploid species with large genomes, such as wheat. The technology generates genome-wide fingerprints by scoring the presence/absence of DNA fragments in the genomic representation generated from genomic DNA samples.
Next-generation sequencing (NGS)
We offer NGS and long-read sequencing for agricultural genomics. Our sequencing data is used to assess genetic diversity by providing comprehensive genomic profiles. Our advanced technologies enable robust population genetics studies based on complete genomes rather than just short sequences of individual genes.
Our strengths and features
Specialization and precision. We have extensive experience in the field of agricultural genomics and a team of experts well-versed in genetic diversity assessment. We bring deep knowledge and precision to every project, ensuring accurate and reliable results.
Customized solutions. We offer customized solutions to meet the specific needs of our clients, whether they are engaged in crop improvement, conservation, or ecological research.
Quality data. We ensure the quality of the data generated through our services, enabling researchers and breeders to make informed decisions based on sound genetic evaluations.
Standardized assessment strategies. We seek to standardize crop genetic diversity assessments to avoid technical bias and apply more informative assessments of genetic diversity dynamics.
CD Genomics utilizes advanced genomic technologies to provide ongoing assessment of crop genetic diversity to facilitate effective monitoring of newly released varieties and on-farm crop diversity. Additionally, we can perform in silico simulations using different diversity parameters, genome coverage, and sampling strategies to evaluate the accuracy and precision of diversity assessments. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us.
Reference
Fu, Yong-Bi. "Understanding crop genetic diversity under modern plant breeding." Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 128 (2015): 2131-2142.
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OUR MISSION
CD Genomics is propelling the future of agriculture by employing cutting-edge sequencing and genotyping technologies to predict and enhance multiple complex polygenic traits within breeding populations.
Fig. 1. Illustration of the spatial and temporal changes (solid line and some highlight in red) in crop genetic diversity generated by modern plant breeding with variable goals and methods. (Fu et al., 2015)
