From Local Heritage to Genomic Innovation: Whole-Genome Sequencing of Tunisian Durum Wheat Landraces Chili and Mahmoudi

Abstract

Here, we report the whole-genome sequences of two emblematic Tunisian landraces, Mahmoudi (Arabic: محمّودي) and Chili (Arabic: شيلي/ شلي). Selected over generations by farmers, these landraces combine resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses with strong adaptation to Southern Mediterranean climates. Beyond their agronomic value, Mahmoudi and Chili are deeply embedded in culinary traditions and regional identity, supporting smallholder livelihoods through exceptional grain quality, short supply chains, and artisanal processing. We anticipate that these genome sequences will catalyze research at a time when local landraces, largely displaced since the early twentieth century by high-yielding modern cultivars which suffer substantial genetic erosion, are now confined mainly to marginal farming systems. Renewed interest in climate-resilient crops highlights their potential as strategic resources for future durum wheat breeding. To accelerate discovery, we launched the Durum Genome Project Tunisia (DurumGPT), an open-science consortium dedicated to sharing genomic data, fostering collaboration, and raising awareness of Tunisia’s genetic heritage. We release these whole-genome datasets without restriction through the OpenDurumGPT Community. We actively encourage analyses, feedback, and contributions from the community. The raw sequencing data are made available via NCBI/Genbank under BioProject PRJNA1420514