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Garg V, Barmukh R, Chitikineni A, Roorkiwal M, Ojiewo C, Bohra A, Thudi M, Singh VK, Kudapa H, Saxena RK, Fountain J, Mir RR, Bharadwaj C, Chen X, Xin L, Pandey MK. Celebrating Professor Rajeev K. Varshney's transformative research odyssey from genomics to the field on his induction as Fellow of the Royal Society. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2024; 22:1504-1515. [PMID: 38206288 PMCID: PMC11123405 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Professor Rajeev K. Varshney's transformative impact on crop genomics, genetics, and agriculture is the result of his passion, dedication, and unyielding commitment to harnessing the potential of genomics to address the most pressing challenges faced by the global agricultural community. Starting from a small town in India and reaching the global stage, Professor Varshney's academic and professional trajectory has inspired many scientists active in research today. His ground-breaking work, especially his effort to list orphan tropical crops to genomic resource-rich entities, has been transformative. Beyond his scientific achievements, Professor Varshney is recognized by his colleagues as an exemplary mentor, fostering the growth of future researchers, building institutional capacity, and strengthening scientific capability. His focus on translational genomics and strengthening seed system in developing countries for the improvement of agriculture has made a tangible impact on farmers' lives. His skills have been best utilized in roles at leading research centres where he has applied his expertise to deliver a new vision for crop improvement. These efforts have now been recognized by the Royal Society with the award of the Fellowship (FRS). As we mark this significant milestone in his career, we not only celebrate Professor Varshney's accomplishments but also his wider contributions that continue to transform the agricultural landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanika Garg
- Centre for Crop & Food Innovation, WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Food Futures InstituteMurdoch UniversityMurdochWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Rutwik Barmukh
- Centre for Crop & Food Innovation, WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Food Futures InstituteMurdoch UniversityMurdochWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Annapurna Chitikineni
- Centre for Crop & Food Innovation, WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Food Futures InstituteMurdoch UniversityMurdochWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Manish Roorkiwal
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and BiotechnologyUnited Arab Emirates UniversityAl AinUAE
| | - Chris Ojiewo
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)NairobiKenya
| | - Abhishek Bohra
- Centre for Crop & Food Innovation, WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Food Futures InstituteMurdoch UniversityMurdochWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | | | - Vikas K. Singh
- International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)‐South‐Asia HubInternational Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid TropicsHyderabadIndia
| | - Himabindu Kudapa
- Center of Excellence in Genomics & Systems BiologyInternational Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)HyderabadIndia
| | | | - Jake Fountain
- Department of Plant PathologyUniversity of GeorgiaGriffinGeorgiaUSA
| | - Reyazul Rouf Mir
- Division of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of AgricultureSKUAST‐KashmirWaduraIndia
| | | | - Xiaoping Chen
- Crops Research InstituteGuangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GDAAS)GuangzhouChina
| | | | - Manish K. Pandey
- Center of Excellence in Genomics & Systems BiologyInternational Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)HyderabadIndia
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Raza A, Chen H, Zhang C, Zhuang Y, Sharif Y, Cai T, Yang Q, Soni P, Pandey MK, Varshney RK, Zhuang W. Designing future peanut: the power of genomics-assisted breeding. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2024; 137:66. [PMID: 38438591 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-024-04575-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Integrating GAB methods with high-throughput phenotyping, genome editing, and speed breeding hold great potential in designing future smart peanut cultivars to meet market and food supply demands. Cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), a legume crop greatly valued for its nourishing food, cooking oil, and fodder, is extensively grown worldwide. Despite decades of classical breeding efforts, the actual on-farm yield of peanut remains below its potential productivity due to the complicated interplay of genotype, environment, and management factors, as well as their intricate interactions. Integrating modern genomics tools into crop breeding is necessary to fast-track breeding efficiency and rapid progress. When combined with speed breeding methods, this integration can substantially accelerate the breeding process, leading to faster access of improved varieties to farmers. Availability of high-quality reference genomes for wild diploid progenitors and cultivated peanuts has accelerated the process of gene/quantitative locus discovery, developing markers and genotyping assays as well as a few molecular breeding products with improved resistance and oil quality. The use of new breeding tools, e.g., genomic selection, haplotype-based breeding, speed breeding, high-throughput phenotyping, and genome editing, is probable to boost genetic gains in peanut. Moreover, renewed attention to efficient selection and exploitation of targeted genetic resources is also needed to design high-quality and high-yielding peanut cultivars with main adaptation attributes. In this context, the combination of genomics-assisted breeding (GAB), genome editing, and speed breeding hold great potential in designing future improved peanut cultivars to meet market and food supply demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Raza
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Genetics, Center of Legume Crop Genetics and Systems Biology, Oil Crops Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU), Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Hua Chen
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Genetics, Center of Legume Crop Genetics and Systems Biology, Oil Crops Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU), Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Chong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Genetics, Center of Legume Crop Genetics and Systems Biology, Oil Crops Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU), Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Yuhui Zhuang
- College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU), Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Yasir Sharif
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Genetics, Center of Legume Crop Genetics and Systems Biology, Oil Crops Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU), Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Tiecheng Cai
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Genetics, Center of Legume Crop Genetics and Systems Biology, Oil Crops Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU), Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Qiang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Genetics, Center of Legume Crop Genetics and Systems Biology, Oil Crops Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU), Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Pooja Soni
- Center of Excellence in Genomics and Systems Biology (CEGSB), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, 502324, India
| | - Manish K Pandey
- Center of Excellence in Genomics and Systems Biology (CEGSB), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, 502324, India
| | - Rajeev K Varshney
- WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Centre for Crop and Food Innovation, Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia.
| | - Weijian Zhuang
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Genetics, Center of Legume Crop Genetics and Systems Biology, Oil Crops Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU), Fuzhou, 350002, China.
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