Genetic Goldmine: A WWI Veteran’s Seed Collection Could Revolutionize Agriculture

Some of the historic wheat in a century-old collection was gathered from as far as Australia.Photo byKGPA Ltd/Alamy

Arthur Watkins, a little-known but visionary plant scientist from a century ago, initiated a groundbreaking project by collecting an astonishing 827 wheat varieties from around the globe. It was his life’s work, after serving in WWI, who stayed behind in France to assist with agricultural efforts as local farmers attempted to feed troops waiting to return home. After graduating from Cambridge, he joined the university’s agricultural department and began his vast collection.

Now, his efforts are yielding substantial benefits as researchers at the UK's John Innes Centre, in collaboration with Chinese scientists, have successfully sequenced the DNA of these numerous samples. This research has uncovered previously unknown genes that would be instrumental in developing new, robust wheat varieties capable of thriving in harsh conditions like salty soil and reducing the need for nitrogen fertilizers.

This "genetic goldmine" holds the potential to significantly enhance wheat yields, offering hope for supporting the growing global population amid escalating climate challenges. The fact that modern wheat utilizes only about 40% of the genetic diversity found in Watkins' collection is a testament to the vast potential for agricultural improvement. As project leader Shifeng Cheng puts it, “We can retrace the novel, functional and beneficial diversity that were lost in modern wheats after the ‘green revolution’ in the 20th century, and have the opportunity to add them back into breeding programmes.”

Today, with one in five calories consumed by humans coming from wheat, the urgency of the global food challenge is clear. As the world's population continues to grow, the need for sustainable and resilient crops is more pressing than ever. Watkins's foresight in preserving wheat's genetic diversity, recognizing the potential long-term value of genes discarded by contemporary breeding practices, is now more relevant than ever. His work could hold the key to developing wheat that can sustain healthy yields in increasingly adverse agricultural environments.