Application of Biotechnology

Modern genetic analyses are evolving quickly and have unprecedented ability to provide clarity and context to the genetic control of traits important for survival of crop wild relatives and sustainability of cropping systems. The ability to examine whole genomes at single nucleotide resolution complements the ongoing genetic marker approaches, allowing easily surveyed and inexpensive genetic marker surveys of germplasm and populations to be correlated with specific genes, and where known, to anticipate differences in regulation between wild and crop genes. Genome sequences allow this integration, and for sugar beet at least two high-quality reference genome assemblies are currently available. Such genome assemblies form the foundation of survey activities designed to identify genes controlling traits, examine the extent and distribution of genetic variation in the species, and assess completeness of germplasm collections. Genome archeology can reveal genetic responses to selection and perhaps predict germplasm accessions with higher probability of contributing traits useful in sustainable beet agriculture. Such genome-enabled investigations are only newly available and thus their potential will only be limited by availability of nucleotide sequence data coupled with geographic and phenotypic characterization of germplasm held in gene banks and breeding programs. Directed engineering for improvement of traits will require knowledge of their genetic control and assessment of their diversity.