COTTON The global cotton industry is a cornerstone of the textile industry, providing employment and income for millions worldwide. Cotton breed- ers have improved fiber yield and quality over the years using traditional breeding methods. However, achieving additional improvements, like drought tolerance and resistance to emerg- ing pests and diseases, may be difficult due to the lack of genetic variation across modern domesticated cotton. Creating new genomic tools for the cotton industry will help take cotton improvements to the next level. Researchers from the HudsonAlpha Genome Sequencing Center (GSC) created high-quality genome sequences for three key cotton varieties, providing invaluable tools for breeders to develop more resilient and produc- tive crops 1 . These new reference genomes offer a deeper understanding of cotton’s genetic make- up, enabling the identification of genes associat- ed with traits like yield, fiber quality, and disease resistance. By leveraging these genomic resources, breeders can accelerate the development of cotton varieties that can withstand changing climates, pests, and diseases, ensuring a sus- tainable future for this vital crop. This ground- breaking research demonstrates the power of genomics to address global challenges and drive agricultural innovation.
SUGARCANE Sugarcane is an important global crop that faces increasing challenges from climate change and emerging pests and diseases. Traditional breeding methods have created new varieties of sugarcane that can grow in new environments and survive some pathogens; however, genome-directed breeding could help speed up the process of creating new varieties of sugar- cane that can thrive in our changing world. Until recently, sugarcane breeding could not benefit from genome-directed breeding because genomic tools did not exist. In 2024, the GSC, along with numerous international collabora- tors, released a high-quality reference genome for a common variety of sugarcane called R570 2 . The GSC has a long track record of sequenc- ing complex plant genomes, but the sugarcane genome is the most complicated genome they’ve assembled to date, having, on average, 12 copies of each chromosome and a total of 114 chromo- somes with highly repetitive regions. Having a high-quality reference genome is a game changer for the sugarcane industry. Using the genome, scientists have already discovered two genes that protect sugarcane from brown rust disease, a notorious foe for sugarcane breeders and farmers. The reference genome will help accelerate sugarcane breeding and the adaptation of sugarcane to our changing environmental conditions. ■
RESEARCH REPORT 2023-2024
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