Putting two systems for DNA identification of wheat to the test

With over 500 wheat varieties currently registered in Canada, and another 125 nonregistered or deregistered varieties available to be grown, DNA identification is an important part of Canada’s grain quality assurance system. Being able to accurately identify the wheat varieties present in a grain shipment is critical to ensure that exports of Canadian grain meet the buyers’ expectations for processing and making food products. In this study, we compared the accuracy and efficiency of 2 systems for identifying wheat varieties using DNA.

Genotyping identifies differences in the DNA sequences of plants and animals. We use genotyping to distinguish between wheat varieties by comparing specific genetic components of the wheat being tested against our wheat DNA database.

In this study, we developed refined laboratory procedures to distinguish between wheat varieties with greater accuracy. We adapted these procedures to be used with the SmartChip genotyping system, which is similar to the OpenArray system currently used by the Canadian Grain Commission. We used each system to analyze 288 known samples of Canadian wheat varieties. We then compared the results to identify any differences in performance.

Both systems have advantages that make them suitable for different applications. In general, we observed that the OpenArray system has higher throughput than the SmartChip system. The SmartChip system, meanwhile, had improved accuracy and fewer missing data points. The OpenArray and SmartChip genotyping systems can both be used with our enhanced laboratory procedures to identify Canadian wheat varieties.

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Variety composition testing helps maintain Canada’s reputation as a reliable supplier of high-quality wheat. The Grain Research Laboratory investigates the latest technology to ensure our services provide value to Canada’s grain sector while providing accurate, timely information for grain buyers.

Full research article

Sung-Jong Lee, Tigst Demeke, Mathieu Dusabenyagasani, Danny Saydak, Daniel Perry, and Sean Walkowiak. 2023. Evaluation of two high-throughput genotyping systems for rapid identification of Canadian wheat varieties. Canadian Journal of Plant Science. e-First https://doi.org/10.1139/cjps-2022-0192