Chromosome-scale genome assembly provides insights into rye biology, evolution and agronomic potential

Open access
Date
2021-04Type
- Journal Article
Citations
Cited 55 times in
Web of Science
Cited 61 times in
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ETH Bibliography
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Abstract
Rye (Secale cereale L.) is an exceptionally climate-resilient cereal crop, used extensively to produce improved wheat varieties via introgressive hybridization and possessing the entire repertoire of genes necessary to enable hybrid breeding. Rye is allogamous and only recently domesticated, thus giving cultivated ryes access to a diverse and exploitable wild gene pool. To further enhance the agronomic potential of rye, we produced a chromosome-scale annotated assembly of the 7.9-gigabase rye genome and extensively validated its quality by using a suite of molecular genetic resources. We demonstrate applications of this resource with a broad range of investigations. We present findings on cultivated rye’s incomplete genetic isolation from wild relatives, mechanisms of genome structural evolution, pathogen resistance, low-temperature tolerance, fertility control systems for hybrid breeding and the yield benefits of rye–wheat introgressions. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000479920Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Nature GeneticsVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
Nature Publishing GroupMore
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Citations
Cited 55 times in
Web of Science
Cited 61 times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics