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Research Project: BIOLOGICALLY BASED WEED MANAGEMENT: FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH ON DORMANCY AND THE GENETICS OF WEEDS Title: Evolution of Weediness and Invasiveness: Charting the Course for Weed Genomics

Authors
item Stewart, Neal -
item Tranel, Patrick -
item Horvath, David
item Anderson, James
item Rieseberg, Loren -
item Westwood, James -
item Mallory-Smith, Carol -
item Zapiola, Maria -
item Dlugosch, Katrina -

Submitted to: Weed Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: April 22, 2009
Publication Date: May 1, 2009
Citation: Stewart, N., Tranel, P.J., Horvath, D.P., Anderson, J.V., Rieseberg, L., Westwood, J.H., Mallory-Smith, C., Zapiola, M., Dlugosch, K.M. 2009. Evolution of Weediness and Invasiveness: Charting the Course for Weed Genomics. Weed Science. 57:451-462. DOI: 10.1614/WS-09-011.1.

Interpretive Summary: The genetic bases of weedy and invasive traits and their evolution remain poorly understood, but genomic approaches offer tremendous promise for elucidating these important features of weed biology. However, the genomic tools and resources available for weeds are currently relatively meager compared to those for many crops. Because genomic methodologies are becoming increasingly accessible and less expensive, the time is ripe for weed scientists to incorporate these methods into their research programs. One example is next-generation sequencing technology, which enables the sequencing of an entire transcriptome of a weedy plant in a single experiment. Successful implementation of these approaches will require collaborative efforts that focus resources on common goals and bring together expertise in weed science, molecular biology, plant physiology, and bioinformatics. We outline how these large-scale genomic programs can aid both our understanding of the biology of weedy and invasive plants and our success at managing these species. The judicious selection of species for developing weed genomics programs is needed, and we offer up choices, but no Arabidopsis-like species exists in the world of weeds. We outline the roadmap for creating a powerful synergy of weed science and genomics, given well-placed effort and resources.

Technical Abstract: The genetic bases of weedy and invasive traits and their evolution remain poorly understood, but genomic approaches offer tremendous promise for elucidating these important features of weed biology. However, the genomic tools and resources available for weeds are currently relatively meager compared to those for many crops. Because genomic methodologies are becoming increasingly accessible and less expensive, the time is ripe for weed scientists to incorporate these methods into their research programs. One example is next-generation sequencing technology, which enables the sequencing of an entire transcriptome of a weedy plant in a single experiment. Successful implementation of these approaches will require collaborative efforts that focus resources on common goals and bring together expertise in weed science, molecular biology, plant physiology, and bioinformatics. We outline how these large-scale genomic programs can aid both our understanding of the biology of weedy and invasive plants and our success at managing these species. The judicious selection of species for developing weed genomics programs is needed, and we offer up choices, but no Arabidopsis-like species exists in the world of weeds. We outline the roadmap for creating a powerful synergy of weed science and genomics, given well-placed effort and resources.

   

 
Project Team
Foley, Michael
Chao, Wun
Horvath, David
Anderson, James
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)
  Plant Biological and Molecular Processes (302)
 
 
Last Modified: 05/23/2013
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