Review: Gene discovery, from Arabidopsis to crops

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the publication of the first genome sequence of a plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, (see https://doi.org/10.1038/35048692). As this review by Bevan et al. observes, this exciting accomplishment was met with some skepticism by those who felt that it was not likely to contribute to crop improvement, and would detract from traditional breeding approaches. However, with the benefit of hindsight, we can see that it was a critical first step. Today, we have a wealth of genomic data from a large number of plants including many crops, and an ever-evolving toolbox that enables us to bridge the gap between genome analysis and trait identification. This review discusses many of these critical tools that support sequencing, genome analysis, deconvolution of complex and polyploid genomes, and analysis and curation of pan-genome datasets. It quickly becomes evident that many of the tools and discoveries derived from Arabidopsis research directly support trait discovery in crops (for example, the genetic pathways that lead to flowering, and the hormone response networks and their effects on plant height). Thanks to the genomic revolution, trait analyses in crops and gene discovery in Arabidopsis are now integrated, facilitating the direct application of the latest advances in biology to crop improvement. (Summary by Mary Williams @PlantTeaching.bsky.social) Plant Cell 10.1093/plcell/koaf087