Research Insights

Climate change is causing unpredictable and severe winter weather, which can devastate wheat crops in major growing regions like Europe, North America, and China. Sudden cold snaps or warm spells during winter can reduce wheat yields by up to 50%, posing a major challenge for farmers and food production worldwide. Wheat, like many staple crops, has a complex genome with multiple copies of each gene, which can sometimes help plants adapt to stress but also complicates breeding efforts. Traditional methods for improving wheat’s cold tolerance rely on field tests, but as cold events become less predictable, this approach is becoming unreliable. To address this, we are using cutting-edge tools to uncover hidden genetic traits that could improve wheat’s ability to survive cold temperatures. Our project will take a closer look at how individual cells in wheat respond to cold, focusing on understanding how specific genes are activated or silenced. By combining advanced single-cell genomics and artificial intelligence (AI) models, we aim to pinpoint the genetic “switches” that help wheat tolerate freezing temperatures. In collaboration with a leading European wheat breeding company, we will test these findings in controlled environments and real-world fields. The ultimate goal is to identify new genetic markers that can quickly be used in breeding programs to develop wheat varieties that are more resilient to extreme cold. Beyond wheat, our research will create a framework for improving other important crops with complex genomes, helping agriculture adapt to the challenges of a changing climate and ensuring more stable food production for the future.

Funder: USDA NIFA 

Amount: $800,000 

PI: Robert Schmitz, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Genetics