The goal of the project is to comprehensively characterize the wheat collection at IPK Gatersleben for breeding purposes through an integrated approach involving genomics, phenomics, biodiversity informatics, and precision pre-breeding. Using state-of-the-art marker technology, we will generate fingerprints for approximately 22,000 accessions from the IPK gene bank. These will form the basis for developing four innovative and complementary strategies to identify new useful alleles or gametes:

1. The 22,000 accessions will be tested for resistance to yellow rust, leaf rust, and Fusarium. The phenotypic and genotypic data will be analyzed using a new algorithm that enables the construction of a non-stratified population for genome-wide association studies (GWAS). This population will be sequenced using RenSeq technology to identify genes and alleles via haplotype-based GWAS.

2. In the search for new traits, we will focus on genetic variation important for open flowering in wheat, which is essential for hybrid wheat breeding. Using the "Genomics-based Select-and-Backcross" method, we will identify major genes responsible for open pollination.

3. We will combine methods from molecular physiology and population genomics to conduct targeted allele mining for candidate genes involved in nitrogen use efficiency.

4. We will use tools of genomic selection in pre-breeding to unlock genetic variation for grain yield. All four strategies are embedded in biodiversity informatics activities to analyze the extensive data using new tools in population genomics and quantitative genetics.