title: Novel Insights into Tree Biology and Genome Evolution as Revealed Through Genomics.
abstract: Reference genome sequences are the key to the discovery of genes and gene families that determine traits of interest. Recent progress in sequencing technologies has enabled a rapid increase in genome sequencing of tree species, allowing the dissection of complex characters of economic importance, such as fruit and wood quality and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Although the number of reference genome sequences for trees lags behind those for other plant species, it is not too early to gain insight into the unique features that distinguish trees from nontree plants. Our review of the published data suggests that, although many gene families are conserved among herbaceous and tree species, some gene families, such as those involved in resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses and in the synthesis and transport of sugars, are often expanded in tree genomes. As the genomes of more tree species are sequenced, comparative genomics will further elucidate the complexity of tree genomes and how this relates to traits unique to trees.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California 95616; email: dbneale@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Neale
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California 95616; email: dbneale@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Pedro J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Martínez-García
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California 95616; email: dbneale@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Amanda R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: De La Torre
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California 95616; email: dbneale@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montanari
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Xin
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D005638:Fruit / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D017343:Genes, Plant; D018745:Genome, Plant; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods*; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014197:Trees / Q000235:genetics*; D014934:Wood / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development
keywords: adaptation; fruit quality; genome size; perennialism; transposable elements; woody plants