Next-generation sequencing technology: a boon to agriculture

Abstract

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a massively parallel sequencing technology that has revolutionized genomic research. The goal of genomics is outlining the genetic composition, collective characterization, and quantifcation to describe a particular phenotype. NGS has enabled the sequencing of thousands of genomes to study diversity within or between germplasm pools. Advancement in sequencing has also transformed the enhancement strategies in agriculture. The introduction of new platforms employing long-read sequencing ensured more efcient sequencing of large and complex genomes. NGS has replaced the traditional methods of genotyping and plant breeding and simplifed the genetic enhancement and modifcation approaches with the availability of diverse genetic variants information. This review summarizes the available next-generation sequencing platforms and their utilization in agricultural genomics. Agri-genomics has become more efcient after the introduction of NGS technologies with broad applications in genome selection, parentage, genotyping, marker-assisted breeding, and genome editing. Data analysis of high throughput sequencing