Our biodiversity research

We explore the extensive natural and induced genetic variation present in unique and expanding collections of barley germplasm to understand morphological, developmental and environmentally adaptive traits at a phenotypic and molecular level. An overarching aim of this research is to establish the identity, diversity and evolution of the genes and variants that confer these traits. 

We develop new tools and strategies to evaluate phenotypic and molecular diversity and use these to investigate traits of potential value in crop improvement. We adopt a comprehensive suite of contemporary skills in genetics and crop improvement alongside multi-omic molecular and high resolution phenotypic characterisation to provide biological understanding of the consequences of observed diversity and its impact on overall performance. 

A deep understanding of the genetic variation observed across the biological range of the species is the platform that underpins all that we do and provides a launchpad for all gene and trait discovery programs within this theme.