Sustainable onion breeding: Expanding the onion gene pool by bridging the Allium germplasm
Samenvatting project
This project unlocks genetic diversity from Allium relatives to overcome limits in onion breeding. A high-quality A. roylei genome and transcriptomes enable precise mapping of recombination, haplotype phasing, and discovery of structural variants. Serving as a crucial bridge species, A. roylei facilitates introgression from related Allium, helping overcome breeding barriers. These insights advance fundamental knowledge of genome evolution while delivering resilient, eco-friendly cultivars that strengthen food security and sustainable agriculture.
Doel van het project
The overall aim of the project is to support the development of more sustainable onion production.
Geplande resultaten
1. Novel high-quality chromosome level assembly of the A. roylei nuclear genome
2. Novel high-quality transcriptomes of onion related species A. roylei, A. galanthum, A. fistulosom, A.
angulosum, A. tuberosum.
3. Structural and functional annotation of the A. roylei genome.
4. SNP marker development using comparative sequence analyses between Allium species.
5. Novel backcross populations, derived from available interspecific hybrids.
6. Genotyping hybrid populations.
7. Determine recombination landscapes in Allium interspecific hybrid offspring using previously
developed markers monomorphic for onion cultivars and polymorphic for Allium species and markers
developed in this project.
8. Use positions of introgressions to delineate onion genome domains (in)accessible to recombination.
9. These regions will serve as proxies to extract genetic and genomic features from annotated parental
genomes in A. cepa, A. fistulosum, A. roylei and A. galanthum, A. angulosum, A. tuberosum, providing
further insights in genetic and genomic features involved in recombination control.
10. The genomics and genetic feature information and recombination frequencies will be compiled into a
“bridge atlas”. The atlas of compatible and incompatible chromosome domains will serve to guide
breeding strategy design for stable introgression of desirable traits between Allium species.
11. Plant materials from interspecific hybrids for breeding.
12. Peer-reviewed scientific publication(s).