scholarly journals Sorghum pan-genome explores the functional utility to accelerate the genetic gain

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pradeep Ruperao ◽  
Nepolean Thirunavukkarasu ◽  
Prasad Gandham ◽  
Sivasubramani S. ◽  
Govindaraj M ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Gain ◽  
Core Genome ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Genomic Diversity ◽  
Pan Genome ◽  
Genome Association ◽  
Reference Genomes ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Variable Genes

AbstractSorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is one of the most important food crops in the arid and rainfed production ecologies. It is a part of resilient farming and is projected as a smart crop to overcome the food and nutritional challenges in the developing world. The development and characterisation of the sorghum pan-genome will provide insight into genome diversity and functionality, supporting sorghum improvement. We built a sorghum pan-genome using reference genomes as well as 354 genetically diverse sorghum accessions belonging to different races. We explored the structural and functional characteristics of the pan-genome and explain its utility in supporting genetic gain. The newly-developed pan-genome has a total of 35,719 genes, a core genome of 16,821 genes and an average of 32,795 genes in each cultivar. The variable genes are enriched with environment responsive genes and classify the sorghum accessions according to their race. We show that 53% of genes display presence-absence variation, and some of these variable genes are predicted to be functionally associated with drought traits. Using more than two million SNPs from the pan-genome, association analysis identified 398 SNPs significantly associated with important agronomic traits, of which, 92 were in genes. Drought gene expression analysis identified 1,788 genes that are functionally linked to different conditions, of which 79 were absent from the reference genome assembly. This study provides comprehensive genomic diversity resources in sorghum which can be used in genome assisted crop improvement.

scholarly journals Sorghum Pan-Genome Explores the Functional Utility for Genomic-Assisted Breeding to Accelerate the Genetic Gain

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pradeep Ruperao ◽  
Nepolean Thirunavukkarasu ◽  
Prasad Gandham ◽  
Sivasubramani Selvanayagam ◽  
Mahalingam Govindaraj ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Gain ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Genomic Diversity ◽  
Pan Genome ◽  
Genome Association ◽  
Reference Genomes ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Variable Genes

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is a staple food crops in the arid and rainfed production ecologies. Sorghum plays a critical role in resilient farming and is projected as a smart crop to overcome the food and nutritional insecurity in the developing world. The development and characterisation of the sorghum pan-genome will provide insight into genome diversity and functionality, supporting sorghum improvement. We built a sorghum pan-genome using reference genomes as well as 354 genetically diverse sorghum accessions belonging to different races. We explored the structural and functional characteristics of the pan-genome and explain its utility in supporting genetic gain. The newly-developed pan-genome has a total of 35,719 genes, a core genome of 16,821 genes and an average of 32,795 genes in each cultivar. The variable genes are enriched with environment responsive genes and classify the sorghum accessions according to their race. We show that 53% of genes display presence-absence variation, and some of these variable genes are predicted to be functionally associated with drought adaptation traits. Using more than two million SNPs from the pan-genome, association analysis identified 398 SNPs significantly associated with important agronomic traits, of which, 92 were in genes. Drought gene expression analysis identified 1,788 genes that are functionally linked to different conditions, of which 79 were absent from the reference genome assembly. This study provides comprehensive genomic diversity resources in sorghum which can be used in genome assisted crop improvement.

scholarly journals Comparative Genomic Analysis of Rhodococcus equi: An Insight into Genomic Diversity and Genome Evolution

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Jianchao Ying ◽  
Jun Ye ◽  
Teng Xu ◽  
Qian Wang ◽  
Qiyu Bao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Core Genome ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Rhodococcus Equi ◽  
Comparative Genomic Analysis ◽  
Genomic Islands ◽  
Genomic Diversity ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Niche Adaptation ◽  
Genomic Studies ◽  
Insight Into

Rhodococcus equi, a member of the Rhodococcus genus, is a gram-positive pathogenic bacterium. Rhodococcus possesses an open pan-genome that constitutes the basis of its high genomic diversity and allows for adaptation to specific niche conditions and the changing host environments. Our analysis further showed that the core genome of R. equi contributes to the pathogenicity and niche adaptation of R. equi. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that the genomes of R. equi shared identical collinearity relationship, and heterogeneity was mainly acquired by means of genomic islands and prophages. Moreover, genomic islands in R. equi were always involved in virulence, resistance, or niche adaptation and possibly working with prophages to cause the majority of genome expansion. These findings provide an insight into the genomic diversity, evolution, and structural variation of R. equi and a valuable resource for functional genomic studies.

scholarly journals Cotton pan-genome retrieves the lost sequences and genes during domestication and selection

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianying Li ◽  
Daojun Yuan ◽  
Pengcheng Wang ◽  
Qiongqiong Wang ◽  
Mengling Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Fiber Quality ◽  
Gene Gain ◽  
Pan Genome ◽  
Genomic Divergence ◽  
Selective Retention ◽  
Yield Loci ◽  
Genome Analyses ◽  
Reference Genomes

AbstractBackgroundMillennia of directional human selection has reshaped the genomic architecture of cultivated cotton relative to wild counterparts, but we have limited understanding of the selective retention and fractionation of genomic components.ResultsWe construct a comprehensive genomic variome based on 1961 cottons and identify 456 Mb and 357 Mb of sequence with domestication and improvement selection signals and 162 loci, 84 of which are novel, including 47 loci associated with 16 agronomic traits. Using pan-genome analyses, we identify 32,569 and 8851 non-reference genes lost fromGossypium hirsutumandGossypium barbadensereference genomes respectively, of which 38.2% (39,278) and 14.2% (11,359) of genes exhibit presence/absence variation (PAV). We document the landscape of PAV selection accompanied by asymmetric gene gain and loss and identify 124 PAVs linked to favorable fiber quality and yield loci.ConclusionsThis variation repertoire points to genomic divergence during cotton domestication and improvement, which informs the characterization of favorable gene alleles for improved breeding practice using a pan-genome-based approach.

scholarly journals Integration of high-density genetic mapping with transcriptome analysis uncovers numerous agronomic QTL and reveals candidate genes for the control of tillering in sorghum

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajanikanth Govindarajulu ◽  
Ashley N Hostetler ◽  
Yuguo Xiao ◽  
Srinivasa R Chaluvadi ◽  
Margarita Mauro-Herrera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Interspecific Cross ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Differentially Expressed ◽  
Plant Domestication ◽  
Sorghum Propinquum ◽  
Ril Population ◽  
Trait Locus ◽  
Genomic Regions ◽  
Low Coverage

Abstract Phenotypes such as branching, photoperiod sensitivity, and height were modified during plant domestication and crop improvement. Here, we perform quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping of these and other agronomic traits in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from an interspecific cross between Sorghum propinquum and Sorghum bicolor inbred Tx7000. Using low-coverage Illumina sequencing and a bin-mapping approach, we generated ∼1920 bin markers spanning ∼875 cM. Phenotyping data were collected and analyzed from two field locations and one greenhouse experiment for six agronomic traits, thereby identifying a total of 30 QTL. Many of these QTL were penetrant across environments and co-mapped with major QTL identified in other studies. Other QTL uncovered new genomic regions associated with these traits, and some of these were environment-specific in their action. To further dissect the genetic underpinnings of tillering, we complemented QTL analysis with transcriptomics, identifying 6189 genes that were differentially expressed during tiller bud elongation. We identified genes such as Dormancy Associated Protein 1 (DRM1) in addition to various transcription factors that are differentially expressed in comparisons of dormant to elongating tiller buds and lie within tillering QTL, suggesting that these genes are key regulators of tiller elongation in sorghum. Our study demonstrates the usefulness of this RIL population in detecting domestication and improvement-associated genes in sorghum, thus providing a valuable resource for genetic investigation and improvement to the sorghum community.

scholarly journals Genomics and breeding innovations for enhancing genetic gain for climate resilience and nutrition traits

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pallavi Sinha ◽  
Vikas K. Singh ◽  
Abhishek Bohra ◽  
Arvind Kumar ◽  
Jochen C. Reif ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Methods ◽  
Genetic Gain ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Breeding Population ◽  
Breeding Cycle ◽  
Climate Resilience ◽  
Heritability Estimation ◽  
Improvement Programs ◽  
Statistical Designs ◽  
Novel Alleles

Abstract Key message Integrating genomics technologies and breeding methods to tweak core parameters of the breeder’s equation could accelerate delivery of climate-resilient and nutrient rich crops for future food security. Abstract Accelerating genetic gain in crop improvement programs with respect to climate resilience and nutrition traits, and the realization of the improved gain in farmers’ fields require integration of several approaches. This article focuses on innovative approaches to address core components of the breeder’s equation. A prerequisite to enhancing genetic variance (σ2g) is the identification or creation of favorable alleles/haplotypes and their deployment for improving key traits. Novel alleles for new and existing target traits need to be accessed and added to the breeding population while maintaining genetic diversity. Selection intensity (i) in the breeding program can be improved by testing a larger population size, enabled by the statistical designs with minimal replications and high-throughput phenotyping. Selection priorities and criteria to select appropriate portion of the population too assume an important role. The most important component of breeder′s equation is heritability (h2). Heritability estimates depend on several factors including the size and the type of population and the statistical methods. The present article starts with a brief discussion on the potential ways to enhance σ2g in the population. We highlight statistical methods and experimental designs that could improve trait heritability estimation. We also offer a perspective on reducing the breeding cycle time (t), which could be achieved through the selection of appropriate parents, optimizing the breeding scheme, rapid fixation of target alleles, and combining speed breeding with breeding programs to optimize trials for release. Finally, we summarize knowledge from multiple disciplines for enhancing genetic gains for climate resilience and nutritional traits.

scholarly journals Research and Application of Molecular and Phenotypic Data for Tree Biodiversity Evaluation

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 564
Author(s):  
Gaetano Distefano
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Phenotypic Data ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Biotic Stresses ◽  
Tree Crop ◽  
Ecological Habitats

The main challenges for tree crop improvement are linked to the sustainable development of agro-ecological habitats, improving the adaptability to limiting environmental factors and resistance to biotic stresses or promoting novel genotypes with improved agronomic traits [...]

scholarly journals Gene targeting facilitated by engineered sequence-specific nucleases and its potential for applications in crop improvement

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daisuke Miki ◽  
Rui Wang ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Dali Kong ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Targeting ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Higher Plants ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Strand Break ◽  
End Joining ◽  
Homology Directed Repair ◽  
Target Dna ◽  
Targeted Gene Editing ◽  
Non Homologous End Joining

Abstract Humans are currently facing the problem of how to ensure that there is enough food to feed all of the world’s population. Ensuring that the food supply is sufficient will likely require the modification of crop genomes to improve their agronomic traits. The development of engineered sequence-specific nucleases (SSNs) paved the way for targeted gene editing in organisms, including plants. SSNs generate a double-strand break (DSB) at the target DNA site in a sequence-specific manner. These DSBs are predominantly repaired via error-prone non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), and are only rarely repaired via error-free homology-directed repair (HDR) if an appropriate donor template is provided. Gene targeting (GT), i.e., the integration or replacement of a particular sequence, can be achieved with combinations of SSNs and repair donor templates. Although its efficiency is extremely low, GT has been achieved in some higher plants. Here, we provide an overview of SSN-facilitated GT in higher plants and discuss the potential of GT as a powerful tool for generating crop plants with desirable features.

The biology of Canadian weeds. 108. Erucastrum gallicum (Willd.) O.E. Schulz

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne I. Warwick ◽  
David A. Wall
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
The United States ◽  
Biological Information ◽  
Close Relative ◽  
Weed Biology ◽  
Germplasm Resource ◽  
Winter Annual

A review of biological information is provided for Erucastrum gallicum (Willd.) O.E. Schulz. A European native, it was introduced into Canada and the United States in the early 1900s and spread rapidly along the railroads. The species occurs in all the provinces and the Northwest Territories and is particularly abundant in the Prairie provinces and mid-western United States. It is a summer annual, rarely a winter annual or biennial species, and is characterized by high reproductive output. Plants occur most commonly on waste ground and along roadsides and railroads, followed by agricultural fields. Erucastrum gallicum is of allopolyploid origins (n = 15, 7 + 8 chromosomes), and contains a single multi-locus isozyme genotype. The species is a close relative of Brassica and is capable of limited genetic exchange with the canola species, B. rapa and B. napus. The possible transfer of genes from transgenic canola varieties to Erucastrum gallicum poses a remote, but potential, environmental risk. Populations of Erucastrum gallicum, including both Old World and North American populations, constitute a valuable germplasm resource as potential sources of beneficial agronomic traits, such as disease resistance for canola crop improvement. Key words: Dog mustard, Erucastrum gallicum, weed biology, risk assessment, germplasm, canola

scholarly journals Pandora: nucleotide-resolution bacterial pan-genomics with reference graphs

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel M. Colquhoun ◽  
Michael B. Hall ◽  
Leandro Lima ◽  
Leah W. Roberts ◽  
Kerri M. Malone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Core Genome ◽  
Graph Structure ◽  
Rare Snps ◽  
Pan Genome ◽  
Nucleotide Resolution ◽  
Reference Bias ◽  
Multiple Samples ◽  
Reference Graph ◽  
Genome Graph ◽  
Better Than

AbstractWe present pandora, a novel pan-genome graph structure and algorithms for identifying variants across the full bacterial pan-genome. As much bacterial adaptability hinges on the accessory genome, methods which analyze SNPs in just the core genome have unsatisfactory limitations. Pandora approximates a sequenced genome as a recombinant of references, detects novel variation and pan-genotypes multiple samples. Using a reference graph of 578 Escherichia coli genomes, we compare 20 diverse isolates. Pandora recovers more rare SNPs than single-reference-based tools, is significantly better than picking the closest RefSeq reference, and provides a stable framework for analyzing diverse samples without reference bias.

scholarly journals Metabolic Diversity within the Globally Abundant Marine Group IIEuryarchaeaOffers Insight into Ecological Patterns

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin J Tully
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Comparative Genomic Analysis ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Metabolic Diversity ◽  
Metabolic Potential ◽  
Surface Ocean ◽  
Ecological Patterns ◽  
Reference Genomes ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractDespite their discovery over 25 years ago, the Marine Group IIEuryarchaea(MGII) have remained a difficult group of organisms to study, lacking cultured isolates and genome references. The MGII have been identified in marine samples from around the world and evidence supports a photoheterotrophic lifestyle combining phototrophy via proteorhodopsins with the remineralization of high molecular weight organic matter. Divided between two clades, the MGII have distinct ecological patterns that are not understood based on the limited number of available genomes. Here, I present the comparative genomic analysis of 250 MGII genomes, providing the most detailed view of these mesophilic archaea to-date. This analysis identified 17 distinct subclades including nine subclades that previously lacked reference genomes. The metabolic potential and distribution of the MGII genera revealed distinct roles in the environment, identifying algal-saccharide-degrading coastal subclades, protein-degrading oligotrophic surface ocean subclades, and mesopelagic subclades lacking proteorhodopsins common in all other subclades. This study redefines the MGII and provides an avenue for understanding the role these organisms play in the cycling of organic matter throughout the water column.

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