The world's first genome sequence on bread wheat has been completed with the help of Chinese scientists.

The International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium successfully mapped the genome of "hexaploid bread wheat with an annotated reference sequence," according to a study released in the U.S.-based academic journal Science.

With wheat contributing about a fifth of the total calories consumed by humans, it is important to understand the wheat genome and develop improved varieties to avoid potential harvest failures and associated social unrest, the Science study said.