Hybrid-derived weedy rice maintains adaptive combinations of alleles associated with seed dormancy (Mol. Ecol.)
Plant Science Research WeeklyThe cross between genetically distant parents is an essential source of genetic variation. This process, known as hybridization, might result in the loss of adaptive gene combinations due to the introduction of non-adaptive alleles. However, Imaizumi and colleagues show this is not the case with weedy…
Bypassing reproductive barriers in hybrid seeds
The Plant Cell: In a NutshellHuc et al. discover a method for bypassing the triploid block via chemically induced epimutagenesis using 5-Azacytidine.
Background: Hybridization of plants with different chromosome numbers is often hindered by reproductive barriers established after fertilization. This is because the correct balance…