Accelerating wheat improvement through trait characterization: advances and perspectives

Wheat (Triticum spp.) is a primary dietary staple food for humanity. Many wheat genetic resources with variable genomes have a record of domestication history and are widespread throughout the world. To develop elite wheat varieties, agronomical and stress-responsive trait characterization is foremost for evaluating existing germplasm to promote breeding. However, genomic complexity is one of the primary impediments to trait mining and characterization. Multiple reference genomes and cutting-edge technologies like haplotype mapping, genomic selection, precise gene editing tools, high-throughput phenotyping platforms, high-efficiency genetic transformation systems, and speed-breeding facilities are transforming wheat functional genomics research to understand the genomic diversity of polyploidy. This review focuses on the research achievements in wheat genomics, the available omics approaches, and bioinformatic resources developed in the past decades. Advances in genomics and system biology approaches are highlighted to circumvent bottlenecks in genomic and phenotypic selection, as well as gene transfer. In addition, we propose conducting precise functional genomic studies and developing sustainable breeding strategies for wheat. These developments in understanding wheat traits have speed up the creation of high-yielding, stress-resistant, and nutritionally enhanced wheat varieties, which will help in addressing global food security and agricultural sustainability in the era of climate change.