Plant & Cell Physiology
2021 vol62 (1)

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The genome assembly of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) has been difficult because of its large genome size and allohexaploid nature. In this issue, Shimizu, Copetti, Okada et al. (pp.8-27) have analyzed the chromosome-scale genome assembly of a representative Japanese cultivar, Norin 61, together with other assemblies of the 10+ Wheat Genomes Project. Notable molecular characteristics and differences between Norin 61 and other T. aestivum cultivars were observed, including a novel copy-number variation and pseudogenization of homeologs of the florigen gene FT1/VRN3. Thus the Norin 61 genome sequence will enable the comprehensive characterization of Asian bread wheat diversity, which to date has been underexploited.
The cover image shows a non-denaturing fluorescence in situ hybridization (ND-FISH) image of a metaphase spread in a root tip meristem cell of Norin 61. Each chromosome displays the fluorescent probes pTa535 (red), pTa713 (green), and pSc119.2 (blue), which allow the identification of gross karyotypic differences. Image supplied by Kazuki Murata and Shuhei Nasuda (Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University).
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