News from Beijing Daily shows that the world’s first barley genome has been drawn by the Chinese by the Chinese Academy of Sciences successfully. It is a landmark achievement in the genome research work of international wheat family. It provides valuable references for the improvement of cereal crops and the research of other upland crops.

The barley could be fully adapt to the extreme plateau climate and be the main food of Tibetan people after 3500-4000 years’ acclimation and cultivation. The barley acreage in Tibet accounts for 70% of the cultivated area. Now, Tibet is one of the cultivation centers in the world for the acclimation and cultivation to the barley.

In order to reveal the plateau adaptability mechanism of barley and interpret its origin, acclimation and breeding process, the Chinese Academy of Sciences has launched a barley genome research project with Tibet Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences and other research units since 2012. The research has made efforts on the whole-genome sequencing and mapping on Tibet local barley variety“Lasa Garma-guri” from 2014 until now .

As for the plateau adaptability of barley, the researchers have made special studies. They have found that there were positively selected gene families in some barley varieties. For example, the gene families which control transcription were expanding. The expansion of gene families made barley be more flexible and adaptable on the adjustment for the severe environment.

Date: 2015.1.9  

 Source: Beijing Daily