Unlocking the genetic diversity and population structure of the newly introduced European HerItage Barley collecTion (ExHIBiT)
In the last century, breeding focused on yield traits in high-input conditions, reducing genetic diversity and increasing stress susceptibility. To promote sustainable agriculture, we explore lesser-known genetic resources potentially containing tolerance genes. The European Heritage Barley collection (ExHIBiT) investigates Northern European genetic diversity, comprising 363 two-row spring-barley accessions, including landraces (14%), old cultivars (66%), and elite cultivars (18%), with 70% from Northern Europe. Using 50k iSelect single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data, ExHIBiT was categorized into three clusters primarily by release year. A core collection of 230 diverse accessions, effective for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on traits like flowering time, was established. ExHIBiT's core collection represents untapped Northern European barley diversity, valuable for researchers and breeders addressing future climate challenges.