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Wheat genome may help tackle food shortages
By Katia Moskvitch Science reporter, BBC News

UK scientists have released draft sequences of the wheat genome, which they think could make a vital contribution to securing global food supplies...

Wheat shortages 'possible'

Recently, Russia, one of the biggest producers of wheat, banned all export of wheat after severe drought and wildfires charred crops around the country.

The move raised worldwide concerns about possible wheat shortages and has sent wheat prices soaring.

Major floods in Pakistan and mudslides in China made wheat prices spike even further. Canada and several other countries also expect their wheat harvest to be much lower than last year due to weather conditions...

"Sequencing the wheat genome could help identify and manipulate specific genes for useful traits, such as tolerance to drought, resistance to crop diseases, or better grain quality... we can expect that improved crop management will be at least 50% of the solution."

'Very complex'

The wheat genome is five times larger than the human genome and is known to be a very complex structure, comprised of three independent genomes.

Sequencing it was a significant challenge to scientists, said Professor Bevan.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11099378