Email: dwwang@henau.edu.cn

Gluten proteins, consisted of mainly two types of high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits, three types of low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GSs), and four types of gliadins, are major determinant of wheat end-use quality. Variations in the amount and composition of gluten proteins can largely shape the end uses of different wheat varieties.

Accurate identification of gluten proteins and their encoding genes is essential for efficient improvement wheat end-use quality. However, the gluten gene loci in wheat and close relatives are highly complex with multiple paralogs in each, especially those specifying LMW-GSs and gliadins. Moreover, gluten genes have strong allelic variations, further complicating the resolving of gluten proteins in different cultivars.

The advent of genomics has raised the possibility of resolving gluten genes and their complex loci at whole genome level. But it has proved difficult to accurately assemble these loci in the genome assemblies constructed using short-read sequencing technologies, likely due to the presence of multiple homologs with very high sequence similarities.

Therefore, we have constructed the genome assemblies of two elite common wheat cultivars (Xiaoyan 81 and Zhou8425B) by integratively using the latest HiFi long-read and Hi-C sequencing technologies. These highly contiguous and accurate genome assemblies have substantially improved the ability to correctly resolve gluten gene loci at whole genome level. The insights and resources generated in our research may enhance the manipulation of gluten genes for improving wheat-end use quality through genomics-assisted breeding in the future.