Genomic Analyses Reveal the Stepwise Domestication and Genetic Mechanism of Curd Biogenesis in Cauliflower

Overview

Journal Nat Genet

Specialty Genetics

Date 2024 May 7

PMID 38714866

Authors

Rui Chen

Ke Chen

Xingwei Yao

Xiaoli Zhang

Yingxia Yang

Xiao Su

Mingjie Lyu

Qian Wang

Guan Zhang

Mengmeng Wang

Yanhao Li

Lijin Duan

Tianyu Xie

Haichao Li

Yuyao Yang

Hong Zhang

Yutong Guo

Guiying Jia

Xianhong Ge

Panagiotis F Sarris

Tao Lin

Deling Sun

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) is a distinctive vegetable that supplies a nutrient-rich edible inflorescence meristem for the human diet. However, the genomic bases of its selective breeding have not been studied extensively. Herein, we present a high-quality reference genome assembly C-8 (V2) and a comprehensive genomic variation map consisting of 971 diverse accessions of cauliflower and its relatives. Genomic selection analysis and deep-mined divergences were used to explore a stepwise domestication process for cauliflower that initially evolved from broccoli (Curd-emergence and Curd-improvement), revealing that three MADS-box genes, CAULIFLOWER1 (CAL1), CAL2 and FRUITFULL (FUL2), could have essential roles during curd formation. Genome-wide association studies identified nine loci significantly associated with morphological and biological characters and demonstrated that a zinc-finger protein (BOB06G135460) positively regulates stem height in cauliflower. This study offers valuable genomic resources for better understanding the genetic bases of curd biogenesis and florescent development in crops.

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