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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Ithaca, New York » Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture & Health » Plant, Soil and Nutrition Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #284707
Title: Sequencing for the cream of the crop

Author
item CHIA, JER-MING - Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
item Ware, Doreen

Submitted to: Nature Biotechnology
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2011
Publication Date: 2/7/2011
Citation: Chia, J., Ware, D. 2011. Sequencing for the cream of the crop. Nature Biotechnology. 29:138-139. DOI: 10.1038/nbt.1756.

Interpretive Summary: In this invited commentary, we discuss how recent advances in DNA sequencing technology have been applied to plant genetics and promises to transform crop improvement strategies. Now, whole genomes can be routinely sequenced and variations between individuals sensitively detected. These variations can then be used to influence germplasm choice for selected breeding. We reviewed three recent scientific reports that illustrates this in rice, soybean and maize.

Technical Abstract: In this invited commentary, we discuss how next-generation sequencing methods are beginning to find their way into plant genetics, promising substantial improvements in crop yields over the coming decades. Next-generation sequencing facilitates the construction of high-resolution variation maps, which then can be used to drive genome-wide association studies or genomic selection approaches. These methodologies should enable crop breeders to more quickly identify the best germplasm for introgression into elite crop varieties. We reviewed three recent papers in Nature Genetics that highlight this trend.