Dr. Seyyed Abolghasem Mohammadi, Professor of Molecular Plant Breeding at the University of Tabriz, will be the 9th keynote speaker at CSC2004. His speech is titled "Molecular improvement of wheat to increase stress resilience and productivity in a future climate".
Abstract:
Wheat a staple food for about 40% of the world’s population plays an important role in food security. The need to accelerate the development of wheat genotypes that are both resistant to and productive under stress conditions is enhanced by global population and the increase in demand for food by a growing world population. One promising option to address these challenges is the use of genomics tools to improvement of wheat for high yield, better quality and enhanced resistance to environmental stress. Several decades of progress in genomics has tremendously advanced our understanding of the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying complex traits in wheat. The availability of rich genetic resources in wheat such as landraces and wild relatives along with advanced genomics tools have heralded what might be considered a “golden age” of the genetic improvement of wheat. Here, we summarize the works on the molecular and genetic basis of wheat yield, adaptation, and resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses, including the identification of QTLs/genes involved, development of genes and markers toolkit to estimate the genomic breeding values for selection of superior genotypes and development of breeding populations. To develop the new breeding lines, we combined field trails and speed breeding with genomic tools and evaluated the lines under farmer conditions. In addition, we provide perspectives on some key challenges that need to be addressed.
