Population genomics uncovers loci for trait improvement in the indigenous African cereal tef (Eragrostis tef)
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Tef (Eragrostis tef) is an indigenous African cereal that is gaining global attention as a gluten-free "superfood" with high protein, mineral, and fibre contents. However, tef yields are limited by lodging and by losses during harvest owing to its small grain size (150× lighter than wheat). Breeders must also consider a strong cultural preference for white-grained over brown-grained varieties. Tef is relatively understudied with limited "omics" resources. Here, we resequence 220 tef accessions from an Ethiopian diversity collection and also perform multi-locational phenotyping for 25 agronomic and grain traits. Grain metabolome profiling reveals differential accumulation of fatty acids and flavonoids between white and brown grains. k-mer and SNP-based genome-wide association uncover important marker-trait associations, including a significant 70 kb peak for panicle morphology containing the tef orthologue of rice qSH1-a transcription factor regulating inflorescence morphology in cereals. We also observe a previously unknown relationship between grain size, colour, and fatty acids. These traits are highly associated with retrotransposon insertions in homoeologues of TRANSPARENT TESTA 2, a known regulator of grain colour. Our study provides valuable resources for tef research and breeding, facilitating the development of improved cultivars with desirable agronomic and nutritional properties.
Source: Communications Biology
Institutions: John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, International Livestock Research Institute, Aberystwyth University, Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, University of Bern, University of Birmingham
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,190
Funders: Royal Society, Aberystwyth University, European Commission, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers, Directorate for Biological Sciences, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, H2020 European Research Council
Awards: G1311090270, G2058729587, G2166443315, G3345895242, G3402580046, TARGETING HIV INTEGRATION CO-FACTORS, TARGETING CELLULAR PROTEINS DURING NUCLEAR IMPORT OR INTEGRATION OF HIV, G3925726378, G3946622174, G434337789, G465780485, G4705473033, G4937468798, Dominant cis-regulatory variation to improve quantitative traits in polyploid wheat, G6329715174, Resilient Crops: Grains for Health (Oats), G7305958723, G751507354, G8156542052, G8238418921, G8337499222, G8512683158, A new paradigm in boosting orphan crops to super grains: Linking metabolomics and gene editing to improve Teff for global food security and sustainable agriculture, G8591886698
OpenAlex ID: W4410739370