Scientists decipher the code for the silky genome

Chinese scientists have successfully deciphered the whole genome code of the parasitic plant Southern silk, and found that it experienced large-scale gene loss events in evolution, which are related to its particular plant morphology and lifestyle. The results were published recently in the international journal
Journal.
Wu Jianqiang, author of the paper and a researcher at the Kunming Plant Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that in nature, the vast majority of plants survive through photo-cooperation of leaves, root absorption of water and nutrients. Parasitic plants get nutrients from self-cultivation plants through organs called "suckers". People often see some pale yellow or green vine-shaped, leaf-free and root-free plants, wrapped around self-cultivation plants, which are common in parasitic plants.
Wu Jianqiang's team successfully deciphered the whole genome code of the southern silk in a year and a half, revealing the origin and evolution of parasitic plants. "The genus tweeds are close relatives of the sweet potato genus, and their common ancestors lived about 33 million years ago, after which the silks began to evolve rapidly and experienced violent gene loss events." Wu Jianqiang said.
researchers used accurate bioinficytic analysis to systematically analyze the loss of genes in southern silk, and found that about 11.7% of the genes in self-cultivation plants were all missing in the silk genome. Most of these lost genes are associated with photodeteals, the functional development of roots and leaves, and so on.
"Interestingly, southern silk also lost important flowering decision genes. This is most likely related to the degradation of the roots and leaves of the tweed. Wu Jianqiang said.
, the team also found a series of genes that may be associated with the function and development of the southern tweed "sucker".
results provide an important basis for the academic community to understand the evolution and physiological ecology of parasitic plants. (Source: Xinhua)