Plant hybridization articles from across Nature Portfolio

Chromosome-level genome assemblies of allotetraploid Coffea arabica and representatives of its diploid progenitors, Coffea eugenioides and Coffea canephora, provide insights into Arabica’s diversification history.

Wheat powdery mildew is one of the most destructive diseases threatening global wheat production. Here, the authors report the cloning of powdery mildew resistance gene Pm13 from the wild wheat species Aegilops longissima encoding a mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) protein.

Chromosome-scale genome assemblies of triploid Cavendish and Gros Michel reveal the banana cultivars’ origins, disease resistance and fruit ripening mechanism.

This protocol outlines a method for introgressing the entire genome of the wild Aegilops tauschii into elite wheat cultivars within a period of 2 y.

Orzya meridionalis is a wild rice species that has reproductive isolation with Asian cultivated rice. Here, the authors report the cloning of the second locus controlling hybrid male sterility between the two species and show the encoded toxin-antidote system provides stacked reproductive isolation for maintaining species identity.

Liu et al. show that zygotic remodelling of paternal DNA methylation is matched to maternal levels in hybrids and that parental-specific epigenomes are re-established during embryogenesis, highlighting genetic control of epigenetic inheritance.

High-quality genomes of the cultivated strawberry’s progenitors provide the strongest evidence to date for the identity and chromosomal composition of the four subgenomes of octoploid strawberry.

When Mr Yuan Longping passed away on 22 May 2021 at the age of 91, in Changsha, Hunan Province, China, the field of agricultural science lost a true giant. Mr Yuan was one of the greatest agricultural scientists of our time, and a hero who will be forever remembered in China and around the world. He devoted his entire life to the research of hybrid rice and made great contributions to global food security and poverty alleviation.

Increasing amounts of crop genomic resources, along with new technical achievements in genome analysis, can facilitate basic and translational research in agriculture, and expand the ability to meet the global challenge of food production and security.

Record high temperatures are being seen worldwide, thus placing strains on human health and disrupting the availability of essential resources such as food and water. Aberrant weather patterns in the form of intense storms or prolonged drought have put pressure on our agricultural systems and underscored the need for adaptation to a changing climate across many sectors. Complex problems require complex solutions, and genetic approaches could be a powerful tool for helping to mitigate the effects of climate change.