Open the door to the secrets of the pomegranate genome.

Original title: Open the door to the secret of the pomegranate genome
After deciphering the genetic code of the pomegranate genome, pomegranate genetic improvement and efficient breeding are no longer restricted by the limited genetic information of the past. Its genomic information not only provides an important basis for the systematic evolution and adaptability of pomegranates, but also provides an important reference for the genetic improvement of pomegranates.
known as the "many sons and many blessings" meaning of pomegranate, from ancient times to the present by the people's favorite fruit. Why do pomegranates have many seeds? Why are pomegranate fruits so bright? Why do pomegranates have health functions? A series of questions about pomegranates have attracted scientists from all over the world.
In order to crack the secrets behind these problems and tap into the potential value of pomegranates, the pomegranate genome research team, led by Xu Yilio, a researcher at the Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, has successfully deciphered the pomegranate genome genetic code for the first time in the world after years of painstaking research. The results were recently published in The Plant Journal, a well-known journal in the field of international botany, marking China's leading position in the field of pomegranate genome research.
started late, the lack of research
In recent years, with people's understanding of a variety of health fruits gradually deepened, the demand is also expanding, pomegranate is favored by people. Because pomegranate is a highly functional health fruit. It is understood that pomegranate has beauty, digestion and absorption, antibacterial antiviral, prevention of cardiovascular disease, prevention of cell carcinoma and other roles.
, as a traditional characteristic fruit tree, is widely distributed in China, the famous pomegranate production areas are Linyi, Anhui Huyuan, Shandong Weizhuang and so on. Among them, The cultivation history of Wyoyuan pomegranate is very long, it is said that from the Tang Dynasty has been planted.
After years of hardening, Wyoyuan pomegranate has formed a unique local characteristics, and with its bright colors, fruit shape, crystal clear seeds and sweet and sour taste of attention, its excellent quality has long been well-known, has won praise at home and abroad.
, Wyoyuan pomegranate has been exported to Southeast Asia, the United Kingdom, Romania and other countries, introduced to Russia, Bulgaria and other countries, the development of huge space, broad market prospects.
" as one of the advantages of pomegranate production areas, we anhui has a unique natural environment and rich pomegranate resources, Huyuan pomegranate is a business card of Anhui characteristic fruit. "Dr. Qin Zhihua, a pomegranate genome research team at Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, told China Science Daily.
"We've been doing research on the fruit tree industry. At that time, I was thinking, pomegranate in Anhui has such a superior industrial base, we should make a difference in basic research. The deciphering of genomic genetic code is an important step in the study of pomegranate biology. Xu Yifu said.
the idea opened, everyone clapped. To conduct basic research, you first need to understand its genetic information. As a niche fruit tree, the literature on pomegranates at home and abroad is very limited. The existing research in China mainly focuses on the collection and evaluation of resources, variety ecological screening and cultivation techniques, the genetic law of pomegranate importance and genetic improvement research is still in its infancy. Limited genetic information seriously restricts pomegranate genetic improvement and efficient breeding.
faced with this situation, they are hard to break through the difficulties, in the pomegranate gene research opened up a road.
the key to the secret door
In June 2014, the Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences established the Pomegranate Genome Research Group and officially launched the Pomegranate Genome Research Program.
the start of the genome research program, the whole process continued and lengthy, and competitors appeared at home and abroad. "Everyone's doing this research, which invisibly adds a lot of pressure to us, but it also becomes an infinite motum for us to move forward, and it's always pushing us forward." Qin said.
deciphering and parsing of genome information is a systematic project that requires multidisciplinary integration. Pomegranates are a "very interesting" plant in both botany and biology. The research team is well aware of the importance of this research, they have tried a variety of traditional methods, make various improvements, and constantly consult and discuss with experts at home and abroad. During that time, take Qin to change the words of the flower is "just race for seconds", team members rooted in the laboratory, there as a home.
attention to the assembly quality of the pomegranate genome itself, but also to the biological characteristics. The team spent a lot of time analyzing biological characteristics.
Over the past three years, the Pomegranate Genome Project has finally "blossomed" with the joint efforts of 17 experts from anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Huada Gene, Fujian University of Agriculture and Forgology, University of Illinois, French Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Harvard University.according to
, the project to Anhui Province, the traditional varieties of "big stupid seed" as a material, the use of second-generation sequencing, combined with resequencing and transcription group sequencing, assembly genome size of 328 Mb (about 92% of the projected size), predicted the protein coding gene 29229.
addition, the project also carried out an in-depth study of the system evolution of pomegranate, flower formation and development, skin morphological development, anthocyanins, anthocyanins, anthocyanins, anthocyanins and other functional components of the metabolic mechanism.
, said the results of the study were the equivalent of getting the key to the pomegranate gene. The results of this project theoretically lay the foundation for the study of pomegranate gene function and provide an important basis for the genetic improvement of pomegranate in application. This is also the world's first case of peach-golden fruit tree plant genome map, greatly promoting the systematic evolution of plant research.
Testing greater potential
The research team has done a lot of work in the process of pomegranate species resources and genetic improvement, and the completion of pomegranate genome map has a milestone role in gene mining and analysis of pomegranate's important agro-characteristics, which is in the world leading level and greatly enhances China's influence in the world pomegranate research.
deciphering the genetic code of the pomegranate genome, pomegranate genetic improvement and efficient breeding are no longer restricted by the limited genetic information of the past. Its genomic information not only provides an important basis for the systematic evolution and adaptability of pomegranates, but also provides an important reference for the genetic improvement of pomegranates.
pomegranate fruit is well known for its unique healthcare capabilities. Among them, polyphenols such as pyrethroid acid and anthocyanins are important functional components of pomegranates, which have a variety of pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer and anti-aging, and are the focus of people's attention in recent years.
" Our study first mapped out the metabolic pathway of angate glycoside in the organism, and then based on genome sequence and gene expression results, the biosynthetic pathway of angate glycoside in pomegranate body was clarified, which laid a good foundation for the genetic improvement of pomegranate and ang garnet glycoside, and also provided an important basis for the development and utilization of ang garnet glycoside. "Qin changed the flower introduction.
, the research team will use this as an entry point to carry out applied research on pomegranates, so as to tap the potential of pomegranate development.
Xu Yilio said, we will be based on industrial needs to continue to large grains, soft seeds as the goal of high edible rate, easy to eat fine pomegranate varieties selection and breeding work, high-functional substance pomegranate new excellent varieties selection and breeding work, while accelerating the development and utilization of pomegranate functional components, to promote pomegranate better serve human health. (Zhang Qingdan)