Genomic data in agriculture is being generated at an unprecedented rate due to the emergence of new sequencing systems. The increased availability of high-resolution genomic data has aided researchers and breeders in tackling a range of questions in crop development. The overall goal of this research project is to develop new tools for visualizing crop genetics that are usable by breeders and genomic researchers, and that are valuable for breeding programs that involve major Saskatchewan crops. We have created new tools in close collaboration with several breeder and genomic-research groups to advance the science of genomics and plant breeding. The motivating problem for this research is that although many genomic visualization systems exist, few are capable of supporting the interactive exploration that is now required in a modern genomic-focused breeding program. Within this context, we developed new visualization tools in four areas that provide interaction techniques to support exploration and complex analyses. The four areas are: visualizing synteny, comparative genomic analyses, tools for marker-assisted breeding, and tools for big-data genomic analysis. Over the course of the project, we have identified new requirements for interactive genomics visualization systems, and have developed more than a dozen web-based applications to support these objectives. The tools are freely available to breeders and researchers, and are deployed at the website genomevis.usask.ca.

Extension Messages

• Genomics visualization tools are increasingly become an integral part of crop breeding programs
• Interaction with visualization systems is becoming an important part of genomic analysis
• Close collaboration with breeder and genomic-research teams is critical for understanding the specific interaction requirements for the development of new tools in the genomics domain
• We have provided several freely-available tools at genomevis.usask.ca.