What can a wild Medicago genome teach about stress tolerance?

A highly complete Medicago ruthenica genome provides genetic resources for environmental-stress tolerance missing from yield-focused cultivated alfalfa.

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Which species’ genome was assembled?

Medicago ruthenica, a wild perennial forage legume.

Source: The genome of a wild Medicago species provides insights into the tolerant mechanisms of legume forage to environmental stress · DOI · quote verified

What problem does domestication create for alfalfa?

Yield focus may reduce tolerance to harsh environments.

Source: The genome of a wild Medicago species provides insights into the tolerant mechanisms of legume forage to environmental stress · DOI · quote verified

What do authors say about assembly completeness?

A highly complete genome of M. ruthenica is assembled.

Source: The genome of a wild Medicago species provides insights into the tolerant mechanisms of legume forage to environmental stress · DOI · quote verified

Why are wild genetic resources needed?

Genes tolerant to harsh environments for breeding.

Source: The genome of a wild Medicago species provides insights into the tolerant mechanisms of legume forage to environmental stress · DOI · quote verified

Ploidy/chromosome note?

Allogamous diploid 2n=2x=16.

Source: The genome of a wild Medicago species provides insights into the tolerant mechanisms of legume forage to environmental stress · DOI · quote verified

Habitat?

Grasslands across harsh/continental environments (hillsides, steppes, meadows).

Source: The genome of a wild Medicago species provides insights into the tolerant mechanisms of legume forage to environmental stress · DOI · quote verified

Teaching point?

Crop wild relatives harbor stress-tolerance alleles lost under domestication.

Source: The genome of a wild Medicago species provides insights into the tolerant mechanisms of legume forage to environmental stress · DOI · quote verified

Related cultivated species?

Alfalfa (yield-focused domesticate).

Source: The genome of a wild Medicago species provides insights into the tolerant mechanisms of legume forage to environmental stress · DOI · quote verified

Best topic?

Metabolism/physiology of stress tolerance via genomics.

Source: The genome of a wild Medicago species provides insights into the tolerant mechanisms of legume forage to environmental stress · DOI · quote verified

Repeat content noted?

Repetitive sequences comprised 57.0% of the genome.

Source: The genome of a wild Medicago species provides insights into the tolerant mechanisms of legume forage to environmental stress · DOI · quote verified

Empirical product?

Reference genome enabling stress-tolerance gene discovery.

Source: The genome of a wild Medicago species provides insights into the tolerant mechanisms of legume forage to environmental stress · DOI · quote verified