Wheat genomics comes of age

- The wheat genomics field evolves as full reference genome becomes available.
- Genomics will accelerate study and cloning of genes relevant to agriculture.
- Sequenced mutants and Cas9 gene editing offer new functional genomic tools in wheat.
- Recessive alleles constitute an untapped source of genetic variation in polyploids.
- Trained genomics-enabled researchers/breeders key to translating this into practice.

Advances in wheat genomics have lagged behind other major cereals (e.g., rice and maize) due to its highly repetitive and large polyploid genome. Recent technological developments in sequencing and assembly methods, however, have largely overcome these barriers. The community now moves to an era centred on functional characterisation of the genome. This includes understanding sequence and structural variation as well as how information is integrated across multiple homoeologous genomes. This understanding promises to uncover variation previously hidden from natural and human selection due to the often observed functional redundancy between homoeologs. Key functional genomic resources will enable this, including sequenced mutant populations and gene editing technologies which are now available in wheat. Training the next-generation of genomics-enabled researchers will be essential to ensure these advances are quickly translated into farmers' fields.