Researchers in Tunisia have successfully sequenced the full genomes of the ancient durum wheat landraces Mahmoudi and Chili, a breakthrough expected to accelerate the development of climate‑resilient wheat varieties at a time when global production is under mounting pressure.
The two landraces have been cultivated by Tunisian farmers for generations and are widely regarded as living repositories of genetic resilience, combining tolerance to drought and heat with strong disease resistance and high grain quality. By decoding their genomes and making the data openly available, scientists hope to unlock traits that have largely been lost in modern breeding programmes.
“This is not just a scientific achievement,” said Moez Hanin, professor at the Higher Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Sfax and leader of the DurumGPT project. “Mahmoudi and Chili will be key to developing more climate‑resilient wheat, while honouring the wisdom of Tunisian farmers who have nurtured these varieties for centuries.”
From local landraces to global breeding resource
Mahmoudi and Chili are deeply rooted in Tunisia’s agricultural and culinary heritage. Mahmoudi is one of the country’s oldest cultivated durum wheats, prized for couscous production and renowned for its ability to thrive in arid environments where many modern cultivars struggle.
Chili, though introduced more recently, has been rapidly adopted by smallholder farmers in northern and north‑western Tunisia. Its exceptionally high protein content ranks among the highest recorded in both ancient and improved durum wheats, giving it particular appeal for nutrition and baking performance.
Together, the two varieties offer a rare combination of traits that breeders increasingly need such as strong drought and heat tolerance; resistance to major diseases, including stem rust; and high protein content and grain quality.
As climate volatility intensifies and wheat yields face growing constraints from water stress, heat waves and emerging pathogens, researchers say these traits could prove invaluable well beyond Tunisia.
Opening the genome to the world
Using advanced sequencing technologies, Tunisian scientists generated comprehensive, high‑resolution genome assemblies for both landraces. Crucially, the data has been made freely accessible via the OpenDurumGPT platform on Zenodo, enabling plant scientists and breeders worldwide to explore the genetic diversity embedded within the varieties.
The project was led by the Higher Institute of Biotechnology (University of Sfax) in collaboration with the National Gene Bank of Tunisia, with support from GetGenome, a non‑profit organisation based at The Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich, UK.
For Sophien Kamoun, Professor and Group Leader at The Sainsbury Laboratory, the work goes far beyond preservation. “Mahmoudi and Chili are living treasures of Tunisian civilisation,” he said. “Their genome sequences must be cherished – and put to work. They form the foundation for analyses that will drive the next generation of climate‑resilient wheat.”
