JULY 2019 GERMINATION.CA 9 It will lead to new varieties. “We can now see the distinct DNA signatures that have been so criti- cal to the evolution and breeding of durum wheat, enabling us to understand which combination of genes is driving a particular signa- ture and to maintain those target areas of the genome for future breeding improvement,” said Marco Maccaferri, lead author of the pub- lished study. 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. – Luigi Cattivelli Cd cadmium 48 112.411 Sequencing the genome will bolster food safety. USask plant breeder Curtis Pozniak, along with University of Alberta scientists Gregory Taylor and Neil Harris, identified the gene in durum wheat responsible for accumulation of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal found in many soils. The team discovered how to significantly reduce cadmium levels in durum grain, ensuring the safety and nutritional value of the grain through selective breeding. It will make for better pasta. As pasta is a staple for the world’s population, industries are asking for more, safer, and higher-qual- ity durum wheat. “Having this durum wheat high-quality genome sequence enables us to better understand the genetics of gluten proteins and the factors that control the nutritional properties of semo- lina. This will help to improve pasta quality traits,” said Ceriotti.