Genomic assessment of white clover and perennial ryegrass genetic resources

Abstract

Forage resources conserved in genebanks, such as the Margot Forde Germplasm Centre (MFGC; PalmerstonNorth), are reservoirs of genetic diversity important for the development of cultivars adapted to abiotic stresses and environmental constraints. Genomic tools, including genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS), can support identification of manageable subsets (core collections) that are genetically representative of these large germplasm collections, for phenotypic characterisation. We used GBS to generate SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) profiles for 172 white clover (WC) and 357 perennial ryegrass (PRG) MFGC-sourced accessions and estimated genetic relationships amongst accessions. In WC, accessions aligned along an east-west transect from Kazakhstan to Spain, identifying major diversity in Caucasus/Central Asia and Iberian Peninsula. A key feature was the reduced diversity present in New Zealand (NZL) accessions. Similarly, for PRG, most NZL accessions coalesced as one group, distinct from large clusters associated with the Iberian Peninsula, Italy and eastern Mediterranean/Caucasian region. These results emphasise the relatively narrow genetic diversity in NZL WC and PRG, and the broad extent of largely unexploited global diversity. Capturing global genetic variation incore collections will support pre-breeding programmes to mobilise novel genetic variation into New  Zealand-adapted genetic backgrounds, enabling development of cultivars with non-traditional traits including enhancedclimate resilience and environmental performance.