Wheat is a global staple crop but its genetic improvement is constrained by lack of genetic variations

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded North Dakota State University $799,013 on September 15, 2026, under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI, CFDA 10.310) to develop genomic resources and pre-breeding germplasm from Aegilops umbellulata (a wheat wild relative) for introgression into cultivated wheat.

The research identifies novel alleles and genes for biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in wheat by comprehensively phenotyping an Aegilops umbellulata germplasm collection across stress tolerance, morphological, agronomic, and developmental traits. The work applies k-mer association genetics analyses to candidate genes and conducts functional characterization validation. Selected highly variable genotypes undergo development into AABBUU amphiploids and U-genome specific introgression libraries in cultivated wheat backgrounds. The resulting genomic resources and pre-breeding germplasm are intended to provide public and private U.S. wheat breeding programs with novel trait reservoirs to enhance resilience and productivity and support next-generation cultivars for U.S. food security.

Performance occurs at North Dakota State University in North River, North Dakota. The period of performance runs from September 15, 2026, through September 14, 2029. This is a Project Grant, the assistance type under AFRI.

Wheat wild relatives (wwrs) can contribute significantly to wheat improvement, especially in bringing novel genes for disease resistance. Aegilops umbellulata is one such WWR that has huge potential to contribute novel alleles for biotic and abiotic stress tolerance to wheat. Building upon our ongoing research and resource development on AE. Umbellulata, the proposed research aims to identify novel alleles/genes and introgress near complete genetic variations in the AE. Umbellulata germplasm into wheat to significantly enhance future wheat breeding efforts. Using our unique germplasm collection of AE. Umbellulata accessions, we will comprehensively phenotype various stress tolerance, morphological, agronomic, and developmental traits. These data along with the sequencing information will be subjected to k-MER association genetics analyses to identify candidate genes/loci that will be validated using functional characterization. In addition, selected highly variable genotypes will be subjected to develop aabbuu amphiploids and u-genome specific introgression libraries in cultivated wheat background. The resulting genomic resources and pre-breeding germplasm will provide public and private U.S. Wheat breeding programs with novel reservoir of traits to enhance resilience and productivity. The project will support the development of next generation of wheat cultivars for the US food security.