OzBarley: A genetic and phenotypic data resource capturing the Australian barley breeding history

OzBarley is a comprehensive genotype-to-phenotype resource to support research and enhance barley breeding by integrating genotypic and phenotypic data for gene discovery. This publicly available dataset comprises genotypic data from historical and modern elite barley cultivars of significance to Australian barley breeding. The phenotypic component includes high-throughput imaging and X-ray CT-based spike analysis, enabling trait measurements such as plant growth dynamics and seed morphology. Users can leverage genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genomic selection to identify genetic variants associated with agronomically important traits in the OzBarley datasets, thereby accelerating targeted breeding strategies. The dataset is accessible for download under CC-BY 4.0 license and users are invited to contribute new data when using OzBarley plant material in their research. Through its FAIR-compliant design (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), OzBarley represents a resource to protect genotypes of historical relevance, explore the genetic architecture of adaptation to dryland environments, and to enhance knowledge of the resilience, yield, and quality of barley cultivars under diverse environmental conditions, contributing to global food security and agricultural sustainability.