Department of Soil and Crop Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2474 USA
Rapid progress in genome analysis is producing a very detailed picture of the structure and organization of the cotton genome, and genetic basis of complex phenotypes related to agricultural productivity and quality. Genome organization in tetraploid cotton reflects a fascinating story of divergence of A and D subgenomes from a common ancestor, rejoining in a common nucleus, and co-evolving to produce new phenotypes that transgress those found in their diploid progenitors. Polyploidy represents both a complication in genome analysis, and an opportunity to study basic features of the evolutionary process. Differences between subgenomes of tetraploid cotton appear to reflect differing selection histories, and also divergent molecular features, of the respective subgenomes. Integration of data from the detailed genetic map, abundant repetitive DNA elements, functional information such as QTL locations in cotton, and comparative information from other taxa, are converging to provide a powerful set of tools with which to address both classical and new questions in cotton biology, as will be discussed.
Plant & Animal Genome VII Conference Plant & Animal Genome VII Conference