Dr. Anna Elisabeth Backhaus

Genetic variation has been exploited using core collections designed to maximize overall genetic diversity, yet these efforts often failed to target functionally relevant genetic variation. More recently, the Focused Identification of Germplasm Strategy (FIGS), which leverages agro-climatic data to identify adaptive and potentially functional alleles, has emerged (Street, 2017). The targeted selection of germplasm can be further aided by the integration of genomic data, via analysis of genome-wide environmental scans (GWES). Leveraging the concept of FIGS for radically new traits, such as roots and shoots meristem developmental diversity, will be an exciting new challenge for me in CEPLAS.