Omsk State Agrarian University will create a world-class laboratory for increasing the nutritional value of wheat

Omsk SAU scholars have been studying selective breeding and genetics issued related to field crops for many years, and now they are ready to take a quantum leap. According to the results of the eighth megagrant competition for the creation of world-class laboratories, the project of Omsk scientists "Increasing the nutritional value of wheat using genetic and breeding methods and improved technologies for grain production and processing" is among the winners.

On the 1^st of December, the results of the eighth competition for grants from the Russian Government for the state support of scientific research were summed up. The project developed by scientists of Omsk State Agrarian University was the winner in the field of agriculture. The allocated funds will be used to create a world-class laboratory. For the next three years, the research team will conduct research in the field of increasing the nutritional value of wheat using genetic and breeding methods, improved technologies for grain production and processing.

Agricultural crop selective breeding is a strategic direction for the development of research at Omsk SAU. Our University is among the world leaders in crop breeding and genetics. The unique synthetic varieties of wheat with wild grain genes are created. Having grain of high quality, they are resistant to diseases, bad environmental conditions, and pests. Selective breeding of spring soft wheat varieties used for making functional food with a higher content of minerals and antioxidant properties (wheat with blue, purple and black grain color) is actively developing. The first Russian variety of gray Elytrigia (an perennial wheat analog), created by our scientists, is included into the State register. The variety can be used for both hay and grain production. New varieties of bare-grained farro are being created. 

These achievements are based on a bioresource collection that contains unique genetic material with identified genes that are associated with the most important and economically valuable traits for creating new effective varieties. Research is carried out in a consortium with leading Russian and foreign research centers that specialize in crop breeding and genetics.

In accordance with the terms of the competition, 90 million rubles were allocated to create the laboratory. Hamit Koksel, a world-class Turkish scholar in the field of assessing the quality of grain crops, will act as a leading scientist for this work. Professor Vladimir Shamanin, the research supervisor from Omsk SAU, together with employees of the laboratory of genetics of grain crops, the laboratory of selection and seed production of field crops named after S.I. Leontiev, and University students will help to implement the grant project in the most efficient way. The research will be carried out in the context of the strategic development program of the International Breeding and Genetic Center of Omsk SAU.

The implementation of the project will allow the University to strengthen its position as a leading international research center and launch a strategic research program in the field of improving the nutritional value of wheat varieties bred at Omsk SAU using genetic and breeding methods, and improved technologies for grain production and processing.