May 5, 2020
Rudi Appels has worked with
genome sequencing in agriculture for forty years and
specializes in the
genomics of wheat.
He shares his knowledge with listeners, explaining
Rudi Appels is an honorary
professor at the University of Melbourne and a Research Fellow at
AgriBio out of La Trobe University.
He begins by explaining how his interest developed, namely after an
opportunity to work on tracking the rye chromosomes in wheat while
working on genome sequencing in agriculture. He was entranced by
the ability to look at something as specific as
chromosomes.
He tells listeners about the
variety of wheat across the globe—how some varieties can be planted
in the fall in snowbound regions and are able to go dormant only to
begin growing again in the warmth of spring. Meanwhile other
varieties are used in warmer climates like Australia, and are
planted in spring and harvested in the fall.
He describes the chromosome structure of wheat, how it has three
times the number of bases of the human genome and its three sets of
pairs compared to our two. This allows for this diversity that's
made the human and wheat evolution go hand in
hand.
He finishes by disucssing
Genomics, CropGenomics,
cropscience,
WheatGenomics. Some of
today's biggest problems to address through the genomics of wheat,
namely gluten sensitivities people are exhibiting, adapting to
global warming, and disease resistance.
He adds that disease resistance is and has been a constant issue
because the pathogens, fungi, and nematodes will always work to
find a way to succeed in their battle for life. He then describes
some methods for the genomics of wheat to work toward an
adaptability to climate change.
To learn more: google his name for a list of his publications and see the work of the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium .