Genomic insight into the origin, domestication, dispersal, diversification and human selection of Tartary buckwheat

He, Yuqi (author), Zhang, Kaixuan (author), Shi, Yaliang (author), Germ, Mateja (author), Luthar, Zlata (author), Kreft, Ivan (author), Janovská, Dagmar (author), Meglič, Vladimir (author), Zhou, Meiliang (author)

Background: Tartary buckwheat, Fagopyrum tataricum, is a pseudocereal crop with worldwide distribution and high nutritional value. However, the origin and domestication history of this crop remain to be elucidated. Results: Here, by analyzing the population genomics of 567 accessions collected worldwide and reviewing historical documents, we find that Tartary buckwheat originated in the Himalayan region and then spread southwest possibly along with the migration of the Yi people, a minority in Southwestern China that has a long history of planting Tartary buckwheat. Along with the expansion of the Mongol Empire, Tartary buckwheat dispersed to Europe and ultimately to the rest of the world. The different natural growth environments resulted in adaptation, especially significant differences in salt tolerance between northern and southern Chinese Tartary buckwheat populations. By scanning for selective sweeps and using a genome-wide association study, we identify genes responsible for Tartary buckwheat domestication and differentiation, which we then experimentally validate. Comparative genomics and QTL analysis further shed light on the genetic foundation of the easily dehulled trait in a particular variety that was artificially selected by the Wa people, a minority group in Southwestern China known for cultivating Tartary buckwheat specifically for steaming as a staple food to prevent lysine deficiency. Conclusions: This study provides both comprehensive insights into the origin and domestication of, and a foundation for molecular breeding for, Tartary buckwheat.

• Language: English
• Keywords: domestication, migration, artificial selection, buckwheat, genomics
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: 24 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 25, art. 61
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-154895
• UDC: 577.2
• ISSN on article: 1474-760X
• DOI: 10.1186/s13059-024-03203-z
• COBISS.SI-ID: 188067843
• Publication date in RUL: 07.03.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Genome biology
• Shortened title: Genome biol.
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• ISSN: 1474-760X
• COBISS.SI-ID: 7654228

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: tatarska ajda, Fagopyrum tataricum, populacijska genomika, akcesije, molekularna genetika, žlahtnjenje rastlin, domestifikacija