In the 1920s, visionary plant scientist Arthur Watkins embarked on a remarkable mission that has proven invaluable a century later. Driven by a passion for agricultural diversity, Watkins collected 827 wheat varieties from around the globe, meticulously gathering samples from local markets through a network of consuls and business agents. Today, his century-old collection, preserved at the John Innes Centre near Norwich, has become a genetic goldmine essential for addressing modern agricultural challenges posed by climate change.
Through a groundbreaking UK-Chinese collaboration, scientists have sequenced the DNA of Watkins' entire wheat collection. This extensive genetic analysis has uncovered a wealth of previously unknown genes lost due to selective breeding, now being utilized to develop stronger wheat varieties with enhanced yields. These advancements could be crucial in feeding the world’s growing population, particularly under increasing climatic pressures. Simon Griffiths, a geneticist at the John Innes Centre and a leader of the project, highlighted the significance of Watkins' research, stating, "Essentially, we have uncovered a goldmine. This is going to make an enormous difference to our ability to feed the world as it gets hotter and agriculture faces increasing climatic strain." The lost traits are now being tested by plant breeders to create new wheat varieties that can address contemporary agricultural challenges.
The significance of wheat in the global food supply cannot be overstated. One in five calories consumed by humans comes from wheat, and the demand continues to rise as the world’s population grows. Wheat has been a cornerstone of human civilization, supporting empires from ancient Egypt to modern Britain. Originally domesticated in the Fertile Crescent around 10,000 years ago, the crop has undergone extensive breeding, leading to the loss of many genetic varieties over time. This loss was further accelerated in the 20th century with the development of advanced plant breeding techniques, which eliminated genes deemed non-essential at the time. The Watkins collection is particularly valuable as it preserves these lost varieties, which are crucial for developing wheat capable of thriving under current agricultural pressures. Researchers are utilizing these strains to create wheat that can grow in saline soils, enhance disease resistance, and reduce reliance on nitrogen fertilizers, which contribute significantly to carbon emissions.
The project’s other leader, Professor Shifeng Cheng of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, emphasized the importance of this genetic diversity. "We can retrace the novel, functional, and beneficial diversity that was lost in modern wheat varieties after the 'Green Revolution' in the 20th century and have the opportunity to reintroduce it into breeding programs." Despite the promise, sequencing the wheat genome presented unique challenges due to its size and complexity. The wheat genome consists of 17 billion DNA units, compared to the 3 billion base pairs in the human genome. The genome is riddled with retroelements, making sequencing more difficult and expensive. However, thanks to the detailed work carried out by the Chinese team, these obstacles were overcome. Griffiths and his colleagues sent samples from the Watkins collection to Cheng’s team. Three months later, they received a suitcase filled with hard drives containing a petabyte—one million gigabytes—of sequenced data. Astonishingly, this data revealed that modern wheat varieties utilize only 40% of the genetic diversity found in the Watkins collection. "We have found that the Watkins collection is packed full of useful variation that is simply absent in modern wheat," said Griffiths.
Arthur Watkins' century-old wheat collection holds significant potential for Türkiye, which is facing severe agricultural challenges due to climate change. Rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and increasing soil salinity are adversely affecting wheat yield and quality in the region. The genetic diversity revealed from Watkins' collection can be instrumental in addressing these issues. Developing new wheat varieties that can thrive in saline soils, resist diseases, and require less nitrogen fertilizer can enhance food security and support sustainable agricultural production in Türkiye. Utilizing this genetic resource could benefit Turkish farmers and the farm economy considerably.
Ultimately, Arthur Watkins’ century-old foresight and dedication are now equipping modern scientists with crucial tools to address contemporary agricultural challenges. The UK-China collaboration has uncovered valuable, previously unknown genes within Watkins' wheat samples, which are utilized to develop resilient, high-yielding wheat varieties capable of thriving in adverse conditions such as saline soils and reducing reliance on nitrogen fertilizers. As climate change increasingly affects global food production, the genetic resources in Watkins' collection offer significant potential for fostering a more resilient and sustainable agricultural future.
