Tunisian researchers unlock “treasure trove” of genetic traits in heritage durum wheat

Tunisian scientists have fully sequenced the genomes of two heritage durum wheat varieties, Mahmoudi and Chili, both renowned for their resilience to drought, heat, and disease. By making these genome assemblies publicly available, the researchers aim to help breeders worldwide develop more climate-resilient wheat at a time of increasing environmental challenges. Mahmoudi and Chili, deeply rooted in Tunisia’s agricultural history, offer genetic traits largely lost in modern wheat, such as high protein content and strong disease resistance. The project was led by the University of Sfax and the National Gene Bank of Tunisia, with international collaboration and support.