We are happy to have contributed to this international collaborative effort that has delivered Svevo Rel.2.0, the most comprehensive reference genome available to date for durum wheat. By combining state-of-the-art long-read sequencing, optical mapping, Hi-C technologies, and extensive transcriptomic data, the consortium generated a highly accurate chromosome-scale assembly together with an advanced gene annotation, a gene expression atlas, and an integrated QTL resource for trait discovery.
This new genomic platform represents a major step forward for wheat research, providing scientists and breeders with powerful tools to investigate the genetic basis of key agronomic traits, including yield, grain quality, disease resistance, stress tolerance, and domestication-related characteristics. The study also sheds new light on the evolutionary history of durum wheat and offers valuable resources to accelerate crop improvement and the development of more resilient and sustainable wheat varieties.