Exploiting the tetraploid wheat pangenome: a functional resource for the whole wheat community

Durum wheat evolved from wild emmer through domesticated forms to modern cultivars. As donor of the A and B genomes of bread wheat, tetraploid wheats are key source of genetic diversity for modern breeding. Herein, we present preliminary results from the chromosome level assemblies of 40 tetraploid wheat genomes, selected from the Global Durum wheat Genomic Resource (GDGR, passport and genotypic data deposited in GrainGenes, https:// graingenes.org/GG3/global_durum_genomic_resources) to represent the full genetic spectrum of sequence variation across wild emmer, domesticated emmer landraces and cultivars for supporting evolutionary studies and pre-breeding efforts. As case studies, two loci related to disease resistance and spike development will be presented, providing insights into the effects of structural variation and allelic diversity and demonstrating the value of the pangenome in crop breeding. Short- and long-read RNA-sequencing data from multiple tissues of ten core accessions enabled pan-transcriptome analysis, classifying transcripts as core, shell or cloud. Early findings show genotype-specific expression in genes linked to metabolism, hormone signalling, and transcription. Ongoing co-expression network analysis aims to identify expression profiles tied to kernel development, with further investigation into links between transcript abundance, gene copy number and structural variation. Acknowledgements PANWHEATGRAIN (PRIN-2020), Agritech National Research Center, European Union Next-Generation EU (PIANO NAZIONALE DI RIPRESA E RESILIENZA (PNRR) – MISSIONE 4 COMPONENTE 2, INVESTIMENTO 1.4), CEREALMED (PRIMA-2019), INNOVAR, WHEATSECURITY and PRO-GRACE (H2020), Canadian Tetraploid Pan Genomics, National Projects supporting the Svevo Durum Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium, the Tetraploid Wheat Pangenome Consortium and the development of the GDGR.