This paper compiles and discusses all currently available nuclear genome size data for red algae in relation to their most recent taxonomic classification.
A recent report places AoB PLANTS Handling Editor Kermit Ritland at the center of a commercial breeding programme of paw paw. “This guy Si Brown is so interesting” Kermit comments; “[He] made a cold...
Molecular genetic diversity and population structure analysis were used to clarify the controversial botanical classification of Stylosanthes guianensis. In this paper, the accessions were clustered in nine groups...
Global agriculture is facing major challenges to ensure global food security, such as the need to breed high-yielding crops adapted to future climates and the identification of dedicated feedstock crops for biofuel...
The three Genetics Societies in Italy – AGI, SIBV and SIGA – held a strong joint conference in Assisi in September. With 500 people and 300 posters, the major sessions were on topical issues such as epigenetics and...
Establishment of a standardized platform for genotyping banana (Musa spp.) using a set of previously published SSR markers is described in this free—open access paper. The platform will serve a broad Musa research and...
Italy and New Zealand are very similar in shape, extension, altitudinal and latitudinal range but located in opposite hemispheres. This free—open access paper compares variation in chromosome number in these two...
A.J. Cann: I posted here recently about my orchid addiction, and Vanda is one of my favourite genera, so it was fascinating to read the history of a beautiful cross, Vanda Miss Joaquim, originally made in 1893, brought...
The origins of rice have been cast in a new light by research published in PLoS Genetics. By reconciling two theories, the authors show that the domestication of rice occurred at least twice independently but with...
The transfer of chromosomes and/or segments between related species can be used in the development of novel plant phenotypes and also provides an important resource both for dissecting the genetic control of important...
Our favourite fruit, the banana, is threatened by fungal, viral and bacterial diseases. This was discussed on the BBC TV programme ‘The One Show’ on 13 May, to include an interview with Pat Heslop-Harrison...
I remember being taught about the origins of cultivated maize on my MPhil. It was a mess. Over at the Agricultural Biodiversity Weblog, there’s news about why the results were so messy. It turns out cultivated...
Highlight Annals of Botany cover Over the years, hundreds of papers have been published describing the genetic changes that occur during evolution of plants, and the differences evident between individual species. An...