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| Open AccessPaternal imprinting of dosage-effect defective1 contributes to seed weight xenia in maize
Xenia effects describe the genetic contribution of pollen to seed phenotypes. Here the authors show that paternal imprinting of Ded1 contributes to the xenia effect in maize by setting the pace of endosperm development.
- Dawei Dai
- , Janaki S. Mudunkothge
- & A. Mark Settles
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Article
| Open AccessGenomic insights into rapid speciation within the world’s largest tree genus Syzygium
The relative importance of the mechanisms underlying species radiation remains unclear. Here, the authors combine reference genome assembly and population genetics analyses to show that neutral forces have contributed to the radiation of the most species-rich tree genus Syzygium.
- Yee Wen Low
- , Sitaram Rajaraman
- & Victor A. Albert
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Article
| Open AccessDispersed emergence and protracted domestication of polyploid wheat uncovered by mosaic ancestral haploblock inference
The contribution of ancient haplotypes to domestication is largely unknown. Here, the authors develop an ancestral genomic haploblock dissection method to generate a mosaic pan-ancestry genomic map and reveal that the domesticated polyploidy wheat emerged from the admixture of six founder wild emmer linages.
- Zihao Wang
- , Wenxi Wang
- & Weilong Guo
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Article
| Open AccessMechanistic basis for maintenance of CHG DNA methylation in plants
In plants, DNA methylation in the CHG context is maintained by the CMT3 chromomethylases. Here the authors provide a structure-function characterization of a maize CMT3 ortholog to show how recognition of histone modifications stimulate DNA methylation.
- Jian Fang
- , Jianjun Jiang
- & Jikui Song
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Article
| Open AccessThe megabase-scale crossover landscape is largely independent of sequence divergence
The frequency of recombination varies along chromosomes and highly correlates with sequence divergence. Here, the authors show that polymorphisms are not a major determinant of the megabase-scale recombination landscape in Arabidopsis, which is rather determined by chromatin accessibility and DNA methylation.
- Qichao Lian
- , Victor Solier
- & Raphael Mercier
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Article
| Open AccessFANCM promotes class I interfering crossovers and suppresses class II non-interfering crossovers in wheat meiosis
The FANCM helicase functions in limiting crossovers (COs) by unwinding inter-homolog repair intermediates. Here, the authors generate null mutants of fancm in tetraploid and hexaploid wheat and show that FANCM promotes class I interfering COs and suppresses class II noninterfering COs in wheat meiosis.
- Stuart D. Desjardins
- , James Simmonds
- & James D. Higgins
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Article
| Open AccessChromosome-level and haplotype-resolved genome provides insight into the tetraploid hybrid origin of patchouli
The ploidy level of patchouli, an aromatic plant in the Lamiaceae family, remain unclear. Here, the authors assemble a chromosome-level and haplotype-resolved genome for patchouli and reveal that it is tetraploid hybrid as well as compensated aneuploidy.
- Yanting Shen
- , Wanying Li
- & Hong-bin Wang
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Article
| Open AccessDisentangling the genetic basis of rhizosphere microbiome assembly in tomato
Genetics factors involved in rhizosphere microbiomes assembly remain largely elusive. Here, the authors integrate microbiomics and quantitative plant genetics to reveal genetic loci associated with specific microbes and rhizobacterial traits underlying microbiome assembly in tomato.
- Ben O. Oyserman
- , Stalin Sarango Flores
- & Jos M. Raaijmakers
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Article
| Open AccessThe 3D architecture of the pepper genome and its relationship to function and evolution
The organization of chromatin into self-interacting domains is universal among eukaryotic genomes. Here, the authors report a reference-grade pepper genome assembly and use this reference to help describe the relationship among 3D chromatin conformation, chromatin function, and gene expression.
- Yi Liao
- , Juntao Wang
- & Changming Chen
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Article
| Open AccessPOWR1 is a domestication gene pleiotropically regulating seed quality and yield in soybean
In soybean production, level of seed protein frequently shows a negative correlation with seed oil content and yield. Here, the authors report a CCT gene pleiotropically regulates these traits and the selection of larger seeds determining allele leads to higher oil content but lower protein content in soybean cultivars.
- Wolfgang Goettel
- , Hengyou Zhang
- & Yong-qiang Charles An
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Article
| Open AccessDosage-sensitive miRNAs trigger modulation of gene expression during genomic imbalance in maize
The role of miRNAs in genome imbalance is unclear. Here, the authors show that cis miRNAs in aneuploids present a predominant gene-dosage effect, whereas trans miRNAs trend toward the inverse level by examining global miRNA modulation in haploid and diploid aneuploids with the varied dosage of multiple chromosomal segments in maize.
- Xiaowen Shi
- , Hua Yang
- & James A. Birchler
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Article
| Open AccessThe barley leaf rust resistance gene Rph3 encodes a predicted membrane protein and is induced upon infection by avirulent pathotypes of Puccinia hordei
Leaf rust is an economically significant disease of barley. Here the authors describe cloning of the barley Rph3 leaf rust resistance gene and reveal it encodes a predicted transmembrane protein that is expressed upon infection by Rph3-avirulent Puccinia hordei isolates.
- Hoan X. Dinh
- , Davinder Singh
- & Mohammad Pourkheirandish
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| Open AccessHigh-quality genome and methylomes illustrate features underlying evolutionary success of oaks
The genus Quercus (oaks) has diversified into over 450 species which often play dominant roles in the ecosystems in which they occur. Here the authors present a genome and methylome for a California endemic oak, Quercus lobata, and describe features relevant to its evolutionary success.
- Victoria L. Sork
- , Shawn J. Cokus
- & Steven L. Salzberg
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Article
| Open AccessA pair of non-Mendelian genes at the Ga2 locus confer unilateral cross-incompatibility in maize
Unilaterial cross-incompatibility (UCI) systems are regulated by a male-female gene pair that are genetically linked, but no pair of the male and female determinants has been isolated so far. Here, the authors report the cloning of a pair of pectin methylesterases encoding genes at the Ga2 locus confer UCI in maize.
- Zhibin Chen
- , Zhaogui Zhang
- & Huabang Chen
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Article
| Open AccessLocal and global crosstalk among heterochromatin marks drives DNA methylome patterning in Arabidopsis
In plant genomes, both mCG and H3K9me2/mCH are important for silencing transposable elements (TEs). Here, the authors show that establishment of mCH is abolished in both TE and active genes when mCG is lost and targeting efficiency of mCH depends on relative levels of mCG within the genome.
- Taiko Kim To
- , Chikae Yamasaki
- & Tetsuji Kakutani
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Article
| Open AccessGenomic variants affecting homoeologous gene expression dosage contribute to agronomic trait variation in allopolyploid wheat
The connection between expression variation and phenotypic diversity in the populations of polyploid crops remains elusive. Here, the authors reveal the impact of genetic variants leading to biased expression of homoeologous genes in hexaploid wheat on agronomic traits.
- Fei He
- , Wei Wang
- & Eduard Akhunov
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Article
| Open AccessPervasive misannotation of microexons that are evolutionarily conserved and crucial for gene function in plants
The small size (≤15-nt) of micorexons poses difficulties for genome annotation and identification using standard RNA sequence mapping approaches. Here, the authors develop computational pipelines to discover and predict microexons in plants and reveal diverse evolutionary trajectories via genomewide microexon modeling.
- Huihui Yu
- , Mu Li
- & Chi Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessGraph-based pan-genome reveals structural and sequence variations related to agronomic traits and domestication in cucumber
Increasing studies have suggested that single reference genome is insufficient to capture all variations in the genome. Here, the authors report a graph-based cucumber pan-genome by analyzing 12 chromosome-scale assemblies and reveal variations associated with agronomic traits and domestication.
- Hongbo Li
- , Shenhao Wang
- & Zhonghua Zhang
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| Open AccessSignatures of selection in recently domesticated macadamia
Macadamia is a recently domesticated nut crop. Here, the authors report the genome assembly of Hawaiian cultivar ‘Kau’ and conduct population genomic analyses to reveal the origin of Hawaiian cultivars and the genomic basis for one-step operation for the clonal crop domestication.
- Jishan Lin
- , Wenping Zhang
- & Ray Ming
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Article
| Open AccessThe CLASSY family controls tissue-specific DNA methylation patterns in Arabidopsis
CLASSY (CLSY) proteins regulate DNA methylation at specific loci in the Arabidopsis genome. Here the authors show that the CLSYs also control tissue-specific DNA methylation, including at siren loci in ovules, and that the lack of an individual CLSYs can shift the epigenetic landscape between tissues.
- Ming Zhou
- , Ceyda Coruh
- & Julie A. Law
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Article
| Open AccessGenomic analyses provide insights into spinach domestication and the genetic basis of agronomic traits
Spinach is a nutritious leafy vegetable growing worldwide. Here, the authors report a high-quality chromosome-scale reference genome assembly of spinach and genome resequencing of 305 accessions, and provide insights into spinach domestication and the genetic basis of agronomic traits.
- Xiaofeng Cai
- , Xuepeng Sun
- & Quanhua Wang
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Article
| Open AccessThe Chloranthus sessilifolius genome provides insight into early diversification of angiosperms
Chloranthales remain the last lineage of core angiosperms that lacks a nuclear genome assembly. Here, the authors report the genome assembly of Chloranthus sesilifolius and show that both hybridization and incomplete lineage sorting may have contributed to the phylogenetic incongruities in the literature.
- Jianxiang Ma
- , Pengchuan Sun
- & Yongzhi Yang
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Article
| Open AccessThree chromosome-scale Papaver genomes reveal punctuated patchwork evolution of the morphinan and noscapine biosynthesis pathway
Papaver species P. setigerum, P. rhoeas, and P. somniferum accumulates different levels of morphine and noscapine. Here, the authors report the improved genome assembly of P. somniferum and de novo assembly of the other two species, and reveal the evolution of the benzylisoquinoline alkaloids biosynthetic pathway.
- Xiaofei Yang
- , Shenghan Gao
- & Kai Ye
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Article
| Open AccessGenome-wide detection of cytosine methylations in plant from Nanopore data using deep learning
Existing methods cannot profile genome-wide cytosine DNA methylations (5mCs) in all three contexts with acceptable accuracy. Here, the authors develop a deep learning tool to detect genome-wide 5mCs of all three contexts in plants with high accuracy from Nanopore reads.
- Peng Ni
- , Neng Huang
- & Jianxin Wang
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Article
| Open AccessIncipient diploidization of the medicinal plant Perilla within 10,000 years
Perilla is a young allotetraploid species within the mint family Lamiaceae. Here, the authors assemble the genomes of a tetraploid species and its diploid progenitor, characterize the incipient diploidization of the tetraploid, conduct population genetics analyses, and identify loci associate with pigmentation and oil content.
- Yujun Zhang
- , Qi Shen
- & Shilin Chen
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Article
| Open AccessDiffusion-mediated HEI10 coarsening can explain meiotic crossover positioning in Arabidopsis
Crossover numbers and positions are tightly controlled but the mechanism involved is still obscure. Here, the authors, using quantitative super-resolution cytogenetics and mathematical modelling, show that diffusion mediated coarsening of HEI10, an E3-ligase domain containing protein, may explain meiotic crossover positioning in Arabidopsis.
- Chris Morgan
- , John A. Fozard
- & Martin Howard
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Article
| Open AccessA nonS-locus F-box gene breaks self-incompatibility in diploid potatoes
Diploid potatoes are typically self-incompatible, complicating efforts to breed diploid cultivars. Here the authors report map-based cloning of the S-locus inhibitor (Sli) gene in potato which encodes a non S-locus F-box protein that is expressed in pollen and can functions like a general S-RNase inhibitor to overcome self-incompatibility.
- Ling Ma
- , Chunzhi Zhang
- & Yi Shang
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Article
| Open AccessNeofunctionalisation of the Sli gene leads to self-compatibility and facilitates precision breeding in potato
The S-locus inhibitor (Sli) gene could allow potato breeding by facilitating production of diploid inbred lines. Here the authors show that Sli encodes an F-box protein with a promoter insertion enhancing expression in pollen can overcome pollen rejection in the styles of diploid potato.
- Ernst-Jan Eggers
- , Ate van der Burgt
- & Pim Lindhout
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| Open AccessLEAFY COTYLEDON1 expression in the endosperm enables embryo maturation in Arabidopsis
The LEC1 transcription factor is expressed in both embryo and endosperm during seed development. Here the authors show that LEC1 expression in the endosperm is necessary and sufficient for embryo maturation and that LEC1 protein is trafficked to the embryo to activate seed maturation.
- Jingpu Song
- , Xin Xie
- & Yuhai Cui
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Article
| Open AccessRETRACTED ARTICLE: Selective inheritance of target genes from only one parent of sexually reproduced F1 progeny in Arabidopsis
Unlike insects and mice, CRISPR/Cas9-based gene drives have not been achieved in plants. Here, the authors demonstrate homozygous F1 Arabidopsis plants can be obtained through zygotic conversion using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homology-directed repair.
- Tao Zhang
- , Michael Mudgett
- & Yunde Zhao
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Article
| Open AccessA Bacillus thuringiensis Cry protein controls soybean cyst nematode in transgenic soybean plants
Genetic resistance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is beginning to decline. Here, the authors report that soybean lines expressing the Bacillus thuringiensis protein Cy14Ab have significant levels of protection from SCN in both greenhouse and field trials.
- Theodore W. Kahn
- , Nicholas B. Duck
- & Julia Daum
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Article
| Open AccessThe tepary bean genome provides insight into evolution and domestication under heat stress
In contrast to common bean, tepary bean is highly adapted to heat and drought. Here, the authors assemble the genomes of tepary bean landrace and wild accession, discuss the possible mechanism for resilience to heat stress, and reveal a reduced disease resistance gene repertoire.
- Samira Mafi Moghaddam
- , Atena Oladzad
- & Phillip E. McClean
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Article
| Open AccessThe histone variant H2A.W and linker histone H1 co-regulate heterochromatin accessibility and DNA methylation
T-DNA mutants have been widely used for Arabidopsis gene function characterization. Here, by characterizing a null mutant created by CRISPR, the authors show that previous reported function of H2A.W is confounded by a T-DNA insertion induced chromosomal rearrangement and reveal its role in regulating heterochromatin accessibility.
- Pierre Bourguet
- , Colette L. Picard
- & Olivier Mathieu
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Article
| Open AccessAn Arabidopsis AT-hook motif nuclear protein mediates somatic embryogenesis and coinciding genome duplication
Plant somatic embryogenesis (SE) can be triggered by hormone application or overexpression of certain transcription factors such as BBM. Here Karami et al. show that AHL15 is required for induction of downstream BBM targets and promotes heterochromatin decondensation and endomitosis during the induction of SE.
- Omid Karami
- , Arezoo Rahimi
- & Remko Offringa
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| Open AccessChromosome-scale assembly and analysis of biomass crop Miscanthus lutarioriparius genome
The genus Miscanthus has great potential for bio-energy production due to its high biomass yield and strong stress resistance. Here, the authors report the genome assembly of the diploid M. lutarioriparius, showing it has an allotetraploid origin and an expanded number of genes in families related to stress resistance.
- Jiashun Miao
- , Qi Feng
- & Bin Han
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Article
| Open AccessStructural variation at the maize WUSCHEL1 locus alters stem cell organization in inflorescences
The WUSCHEL transcription factor promotes plant stem cell proliferation. Here the authors show that the maize Bif3 mutant contains a duplication of the ZmWUS1 locus leading to cytokinin hypersensitivity and overproliferation at the shoot meristem demonstrating the role of WUSCHEL in maize and how structural variation can impact plant morphology.
- Zongliang Chen
- , Wei Li
- & Andrea Gallavotti
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Article
| Open AccessA central circadian oscillator confers defense heterosis in hybrids without growth vigor costs
There is frequently a trade-off between plant immunity and growth. Here the authors show that the epigenetic control of CCA1, encoding a core component of the circadian oscillator, simultaneously promotes heterosis for both defense and growth in hybrids under pathogen invasion.
- Li Yang
- , Pengtao Liu
- & Guangming He
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Article
| Open AccessThe genetic basis of cytoplasmic male sterility and fertility restoration in wheat
The development of hybrid wheat cultivars is hampered by the lack of an effective way to control male fertility in breeding lines. Here, the authors report the identification of two restorer-of-fertility genes Rf1 and Rf3 that can restore fertility of wheat plants carrying Triticum timopheevii-type cytoplasmic male sterility.
- Joanna Melonek
- , Jorge Duarte
- & Ian Small
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Article
| Open AccessA membrane-bound ankyrin repeat protein confers race-specific leaf rust disease resistance in wheat
Winter wheat cultivar Forno harbors a race-specific leaf rust resistance locus Lr14a, but the causative gene is unknown. Here, the authors show that Lr14a encodes a membrane-localized protein containing ankyrin repeats and Lr14a-containing segments have been introgressed into the bread wheat gene pool multiple times.
- Markus C. Kolodziej
- , Jyoti Singla
- & Beat Keller
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Article
| Open AccessGenetics of nodulation in Aeschynomene evenia uncovers mechanisms of the rhizobium–legume symbiosis
The establishment of symbiotic interaction between Aeschynomene evenia and photosynthetic bradyrhizobia doesn’t involve the canonical Nod factors and infection threads. Here, the authors assemble the draft genome of A. evenia and identify a receptor-like kinase in mediating the symbiotic interaction.
- Johan Quilbé
- , Léo Lamy
- & Jean-François Arrighi
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Article
| Open AccessPh2 encodes the mismatch repair protein MSH7-3D that inhibits wheat homoeologous recombination
In the allohexaploid genome of wheat, meiotic recombination between homoeologues is suppressed through the action of several loci. Here, the authors report the cloning of the long sought-after gene Ph2 and show its function in reduction of homoeologous recombination.
- Heïdi Serra
- , Radim Svačina
- & Pierre Sourdille
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Article
| Open AccessSequencing of the Arabidopsis NOR2 reveals its distinct organization and tissue-specific rRNA ribosomal variants
The nucleolus organizing region (NOR) consists of multiple, highly repetitive rDNA genes. Here Sims et al. use both long- and short-read sequencing to determine the organization and sequence of Arabidopsis NOR2 rDNA and show that different rRNA gene variants are integrated into translating ribosomes in a tissue-specific manner.
- Jason Sims
- , Giovanni Sestini
- & Peter Schlögelhofer
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Article
| Open AccessChromosome-level genome assembly of Ophiorrhiza pumila reveals the evolution of camptothecin biosynthesis
Ophiorrhiza pumila is a medicinal plant that can produce the anti-cancer monoterpene indole alkaloid (MIA) camptothecin. Here, the authors report its genome assembly and propose a working model for MIA evolution and biosynthesis through comparative genomics, synteny, and metabolic gene cluster analyses.
- Amit Rai
- , Hideki Hirakawa
- & Mami Yamazaki
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Article
| Open AccessEvidences for a role of two Y-specific genes in sex determination in Populus deltoides
Dioecy has evolved independently from hermaphroditic ancestors in different plant lineages. Here, the authors assemble Populus deltoides male and female genomes, and show the putative roles of a femaleness gene and a maleness gene in sex determination, which suggests independent evolution in different poplar species.
- Liangjiao Xue
- , Huaitong Wu
- & Tongming Yin
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Article
| Open AccessMolecular variation in a functionally divergent homolog of FCA regulates flowering time in Arabidopsis thaliana
Natural variation represents valuable source for gene discovery. Here, the authors show that a homolog of Flowering Control Locus A (FCA) functions in an antagonistic manner to FCA in regulating Arabidopsis flowering time through interacting with CUL1-E3 and modulating FLC expression.
- Yunhe Wang
- , Zhen Tao
- & Peijin Li
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Article
| Open AccessOsChz1 acts as a histone chaperone in modulating chromatin organization and genome function in rice
Function of CHZ-domain proteins in multicellular eukaryotes remains unclear. Here, the authors characterize the sole CHZ-domain protein identified in rice and show that it functions as an H2A/H2A.Z-H2B chaperone in dynamic regulation of chromatin organization and genome function.
- Kangxi Du
- , Qiang Luo
- & Wen-Hui Shen
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Article
| Open AccessGenome biology of the paleotetraploid perennial biomass crop Miscanthus
The perennial grass Miscanthus is a promising biomass crop. Here, via genomics and transcriptomics, the authors reveal its allotetraploid origin, characterize gene expression associated with rhizome development and nutrient recycling, and describe the hybrid origin of the triploid M. x giganteus.
- Therese Mitros
- , Adam M. Session
- & Daniel S. Rokhsar
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Article
| Open AccessFormation and diversification of a paradigm biosynthetic gene cluster in plants
How plant biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) form and evolve remains unclear. Here, via examining available genomes within and between Arabidopsis species, the authors show that the thalianol BGC has evolved recently and is still dynamically evolving through involvement of auxiliary genes and chromosomal inversions.
- Zhenhua Liu
- , Jitender Cheema
- & Anne Osbourn
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Article
| Open AccessDiscovery of beneficial haplotypes for complex traits in maize landraces
Genetic variations present in landraces are critical for crop genetic improvement. Here, the authors map haplotype-trait associations in ~1000 doubled haploid lines derived from three European maize landraces and identify beneficial haplotypes for quantitative traits that are not present in breeding lines.
- Manfred Mayer
- , Armin C. Hölker
- & Chris-Carolin Schön