Reference genomes pave the way for identifying genes associated with benefi- cial traits and could help speed breeding programs. The work has already led to the discovery of genes that control pecan tree resistance to an aphid-like pest that attacks the leaves and fruits. n Researchers produced high-quality reference genomes for varieties of pecan trees.
Soybean genome guides breeding efforts
Researchers recently published a catalog of DNA varia- tion in the soybean genome. More than 15 million genetic changes were identified across 1,000 different soybean plants gathered from around the world. These include mutations that silence over 10,000 soybean genes. This catalog of DNA change can be used to identify the genetic basis of important soybean traits and guide efforts to breed more sustainable plants. n The laboratory of HudsonAlpha faculty researchers Jane Grimwood PhD and Jeremy Schmutz contributed to this work.
The laboratory of HudsonAlpha faculty researchers Jane Grimwood, PhD and Jeremy Schmutz contributed to this work.
Plants in space There is a growing fascination with long-term space missions. Will humans one day colonize the Moon or Mars or become in- terstellar travelers? Plants will play a critical role in space travel, providing food and oxygen to support astronauts and colonists. Against this backdrop, several new research projects aim to discover how plants respond in space. Scientists successfully germinated and grew plants in lunar regolith, moon soil collected by three Apollo missions. While the chemical and mineral composition of lunar soil is well studied, it was unclear if the dramatic differences between lunar soil and earth soil would impact plants' ability to sprout and grow. The researchers compared gene expression patterns in plants grown in lunar soil to plants grown in terrestrial mate- rials. These comparisons revealed two key factors. First, lunar soils do not interrupt the hormones and signals in seed germination. Nearly all of the tiny plants in the moon soil sprouted successfully. Second, lunar soils are a stressful environment for plants, as shown by the increased expression of genes involved in stressful situations. Although researchers still have a long way to go before we see farms in space, the results of the lunar soil experiments suggest that it could one day be possible. Life on Earth evolved under gravity, so what happens when terrestrial beings are subjected to long periods of low or zero gravity? Recent discoveries found gene expression and epigen- etic differences in space-living organisms, including humans. Understanding those differences could lead not only to methods to feed, clothe, and protect space travelers but may open new avenues for crop improvement on the ground. One such crop that might soon benefit from space travel is cotton.
NASA astronaut Kayla Barron setting up cotton genetics experiment in microgravity.
In late 2021, a group of cotton callus cells was sent to the ISS. Callus cells are a group of undifferentiated plant cells that scientists can tease into developing into a complete plant. This process, called somatic embryogenesis, is controlled by varying gene expression levels. A group of cells was allowed to grow for ten days, after which they were preserved and sent back to Earth. Another group of cells grew for a longer time (90 days) before returning to Earth. Mean- while, another set of callus cells was grown on Earth under similar conditions and time courses. Scientists will analyze the two sets of tissue for differences in the expression of essential developmental genes and alterations to epigenetic patterns which could suppress or enhance gene expression. Researchers hope that untangling which genes are differentially expressed in Earth-bound conditions could open new methodologies for rapidly testing genes linked to beneficial traits in cotton. n
Agricultural cotton has little di- versity, which limits potential crop improvement through traditional breeding. A group of researchers hopes that studying cotton in microgravity on the International Space Station (ISS) will help accel- erate the speed at which they can transform cotton on earth.
The laboratory of HudsonAlpha faculty researchers Jane Grimwood PhD and Jeremy Schmutz contributed to this work.
REFERENCES: Paul, AL., Elardo, S.M. & Ferl, R. Plants grown in Apollo lunar regolith present stress-associated transcriptomes that inform prospects for lunar exploration. Commun Biol (2022) 5, 382. DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03334-8. “Clemson-led cotton genome study bound for International Space Station." Clemson News , 13 December 2021, https://news.clemson.edu/clemson-led- cotton-genome-study-bound-for-international-space-station/
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