Pangenome assembly, genome-wide structural variation and sequence-targeted genotyping in sorghum

The primary aim of the project is to assemble a detailed graphical pangenome for elite Sorghum bicolor breeding materials, identify and catalogue genome-wide gene presence-absence variants, and develop a low-cost, high-throughput genotyping tool for genomics-assisted breeding. We are going to sequence 20 diverse founder lines representing different heterotic pools of German and Australian breeding programmes along with previously published, large-scale short-read resequencing datasets from large global diversity collections and breeding materials. We aim to achieve the goal of the project in three different steps, 1. Benchmarking the available tools and pipelines for pangenome assembly, 2. Assemble a detailed graphical pangenome for elite Sorghum bicolor, 3. Understanding the occurrence of heterosis in Sorghum to develop a low-cost, high-throughput genotyping tool for genomics-assisted breeding. We expect to gain a detailed insight into genome structural variants and gene PAVs in sorghum heterotic groups, comprehensive description of LD and selection patterns in global sorghum diversity, and a high-throughput genotyping platform for genomics-assisted breeding and quantitative genetics in sorghum breeding populations.