Application of Genomics to Enhance Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources

Genomics may greatly enhance utilization of plant genetic resources (Brozynska et al., 2016). This is especially critical with the prospect of major climate change (Aberton et al., 2016). New cereal genotypes are needed to deliver desirable nutritional and functional characteristics in the environments of the future (Henry et al., 2016). Analysis of wild and domesticated genetic resources may identify new sources of genetic variation for breeding. Genomic analysis of cereal (especially rice and wheat) genetic resources may contribute significantly to global food security. Whole genome sequencing and transcriptome sequencing can contribute to discovery of valuable new genes and alleles and explain the molecular basis of economic traits. Utilizing plant genetic resources requires analysis of large amounts of genomic data (Rossetto and Henry, 2014)