Durham Wheat Genome Sequenced, Protecting Pasta's Future
/International team decodes the durum wheat genome
“An international consortium has sequenced the entire genome of durum wheat--the source of semolina for pasta, a food staple for the world's population, according to an article published today in Nature Genetics.
The team has also discovered how to significantly reduce cadmium levels in durum grain, ensuring the safety and nutritional value of the grain through selective breeding.
"This ground-breaking work will lead to new standards for durum breeding and safety of durum-derived products, paving the way for production of durum wheat varieties better adapted to climate challenges, with higher yields, enhanced nutritional quality, and improved sustainability," said Luigi Cattivelli of Italy's Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA).”
