Biology subjects

Terauchi, R.

Publications and source records attributed to Terauchi, R..

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Evolution of an unstable sex determination system in white Guinea yam (Dioscorea rotundata)

Plants often produce unstable sex phenotypes; however, the underlying evolutionary and molecular mechanisms are unclear. In white Guinea yam (Dioscorea rotundata), the most economically important tuber crop, genetic improvement is critical for food security but remains constrained by dioecy and complex sex phenotypes. White Guinea yam has a ZZ/ZW sex determination system in which ZZ individuals are consistently male, whereas ZW individuals can be female, male, or monoecious. Here we show that chromosome 11 is the sex chromosome, featuring a 1.2-Mb inversion between the Z and W chromosomes. A 170-kb W-specific region carries the microRNA gene dro-MIR432, likely involved in sex switching. The recent emergence of this miRNA-mediated ZZ/ZW system, distinct from the XY/XX system within Dioscorea, underscores the dynamic evolution of plant sex determination.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Mechanical analysis of spatiotemporal traction stress dynamics in a bleb-driven migrating cell, Amoeba proteus

Many adherent eukaryotic cells exhibit amoeboid locomotion, where traction stress exerted on the substrate is essential for movement. In this study, we investigated the spatiotemporal development of these forces in Amoeba proteus to clarify the mechanical dynamics underlying bleb-driven migration. By performing a multipole analysis of the stress distribution, we characterized the spatiotemporal patterns exhibited by motile cells. Furthermore, we tracked the behavior of individual localized peak structures within these profiles, which are thought to correspond to focal contact sites. These analyses revealed that the front-back asymmetry in the traction distribution correlates with the direction of migration. We also found that A. proteus exhibits a periodic pattern in which inward-directed stresses are alternately strengthened and weakened at the cell poles. Crucially, we identified a distinctive feature not observed in other cell types: the generation of large lateral traction forces at the cell center. Together, these results highlight both the universality and diversity of the biophysical mechanisms driving amoeboid locomotion.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2025

Evolution of HMA-integrated tandem kinases accompanied by expansion of target pathogens

Tandem kinase proteins (TKPs) are an emerging family of plant intracellular immune receptors that offer potential for developing novel disease resistance. We cloned Rmo2 and Rwt7, genes for resistance to the blast fungus, from barley and wheat, respectively, and discovered that they are orthologs encoding TKPs with an integrated N-terminal heavy metal-associated (HMA) domain. Rmo2 was collocated with Rpg1, a TKP gene for resistance to stem rust, while Rwt7 was collocated with WTK4, a TKP gene for resistance to powdery mildew. Domain swapping suggested that the HMA domain determines target effector specificity of these genes. We propose a model illustrating an evolutionary process in which a TKP gene has differentiated into paralogs and orthologs that recognize various effectors through diversification of their HMA domains.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Genomic prediction models based on a large-scale recombinant population allow quick breeding of high-yield rice

Rapid development of cultivars with optimal genome-wide allele combinations is essential for addressing agricultural challenges. However, constructing desired genotypes through conventional cross-breeding requires many generations, calling for a more efficient methodology. Here, we present a rapid breeding strategy that combines a large-scale recombinant population as starting material with interpretable genomic prediction models trained on that population. This approach enables efficient construction of target genotypes optimized for multiple traits in cultivars. To validate our strategy in rice (Oryza sativa), we established a nested association mapping population of 2,787 recombinant inbred lines derived from an elite cultivar 'Hitomebore' and 19 diverse donors. We built highly accurate genomic prediction models using this population. We then used the models to estimate haplotype-specific effects and account for trade-offs among yield-related traits, and selected optimal lines and designed breeding schemes. Crossbreeding based on these schemes produced rice lines with the target genotypes for multiple yield-related traits, supporting the predicted effects and validating the effectiveness of our strategy. This genomic breeding approach provides a general framework for rapidly breeding cultivars able to meet the challenges posed by a changing environment.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2025

Multipartite coevolution shapes plant apoplastic immunity against rice blast fungus

{beta}-1,3-glucan-binding proteins (GBPs) play crucial roles in cell wall integrity, host- pathogen interactions, and stress responses in fungi, making them essential for fungal survival and virulence. Here, we show that a GBP of the causal agent for blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, is involved in multipartite coevolutionary arms race with rice (Oryza sativa). The rice thaumatin-like pathogenesis-related protein 5 (OsPR5) binds to M. oryzae GBP and sequesters it from the fungal cell wall to confer immunity, but this interaction is counteracted by thaumatin-binding proteins secreted by the fungus to suppress apoplastic immunity. Moreover, a rice receptor kinase located at the cell surface has evolved a thaumatin-like domain to detect the fungal GBP and activate immunity. Our findings reveal that GBPs and thaumatin-domain-containing proteins are engaged in intricate coevolutionary dynamics in the rice apoplast. Given the conservation of thaumatin across plants, we propose a general defense mechanism against fungal pathogens.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2025

STT3A is required for recognition of pathogen-derived sphingolipids in Arabidopsis

Plants recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) via pattern recognition receptors, leading to the activation of pattern-triggered immunity in response to pathogen attack. Phytophthora infestans ceramide D (Pi-Cer D) is a sphingolipid from the oomycete pathogen P. infestans. Pi-Cer D is cleaved by the plant extracellular ceramidase NEUTRAL CERAMIDASE 2 (NCER2), and the resulting 9-methyl-branched sphingoid base is recognized by the plant receptor RESISTANT TO DFPM-INHIBITION OF ABSCISIC ACID SIGNALING 2 (RDA2) at the plasma membrane to transduce a defense signal. However, additional components are likely involved in sphingolipid recognition, which remain to be identified. Here, we employed a screen based on Lumi-Map technology to look for Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutants with altered defense responses to Pi-Cer D. We identified three mutants showing diminished responses to Pi-Cer D and elf18, each carrying mutations in STAUROSPORIN AND TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE 3-LIKE A (STT3A), which encodes an oligosaccharyltransferase. The stt3a mutants exhibited higher susceptibility to the pathogen Colletotrichum higginsianum than the wild type and displayed alterations in NCER2 protein modifications. These findings suggest that STT3A contributes to plant immunity via post-translational modification of proteins including NCER2.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Fine-tuning quantitative agronomic traits by manipulating gene copy number in rice

Although recent plant pan-genome studies have revealed extensive copy number variations, there are limited studies addressing the phenotypic consequences of these variations. Here, we manipulated the copy number of OsMADS18 in rice (Oryza sativa) through gene editing and evaluated the effects. OsMADS18, which encodes a MADS-box transcription factor known to regulate plant development, is tandemly duplicated in the elite rice cultivar Hitomebore as a natural variant. We therefore edited the OsMADS18 copy number using a basic CRISPR/Cas9 system and established rice lines harboring one to three tandem copies of OsMADS18, as identified through high throughput qPCR screening. The presence of one to three OsMADS18 tandem copies was reflected in stepwise increases in transcript levels and concomitant trait values for leaf blade length and culm length. These results demonstrate that manipulating gene copy number can fine-tune important agronomic traits, providing a novel breeding strategy for crop improvement.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Whole-genome sequencing reveals the molecular basis of sex determination in the dioecious wild yam Dioscorea tokoro

Dioecious plants, which have distinct male and female individuals, constitute [~]5% of angiosperm species and have emerged frequently and independently from hermaphroditic ancestors. Although recent molecular studies of sex determination have started to reveal the diversity of the genetic systems underlying dioecy, research on the evolution of dioecy is limited, especially in monocots. Here, we describe the molecular basis of sex determination in the monocot Dioscorea tokoro, a dioecious wild yam endemic to East Asia. Chromosome-scale and haplotype-resolved genome assemblies and linkage analysis suggested that this plant has a male heterogametic sex determination (XY) system, with sex determination regions located on chromosome 3. Sequence read coverage analysis of the sex chromosomes revealed X- and Y-specific regions in putative pericentromeric chromosome regions. Within the Y-specific region, we identified two candidate genes that are likely involved in sex determination: BLH9, encoding a homeobox protein, and HSP90, encoding a molecular chaperone. BLH9 has similar functions to AtBLH9 in Arabidopsis thaliana. BLH9 is thought to suppress female organ development, whereas HSP90 might be required for pollen development. These results shed light on the complex evolution of dioecy in plants. Author summarySexual reproduction is a nearly universal, indispensable feature of evolution in eukaryotes. The molecular mechanisms underlying sex determination vary depending on the taxon. However, most information about this process was derived from studies of model organisms and/or domesticated species. To elucidate the diversity and evolution of sex determination, we need to expand the taxonomic breadth of these investigations. Here, we focused on the monocot genus Dioscorea, which contains species with multiple sex-determination systems, suggesting that frequent evolutionary transitions occur between the different sex-determination systems. We investigated the genetics of sex determination in Dioscorea tokoro, a dioecious wild yam endemic to East Asia. Whole-genome assembly and genetic analysis, along with transcriptome analysis, suggested that this species employs a male heterogametic sex determination (XY) system, with two Y-chromosome-specific genes that might be involved in male and female differentiation. These findings enhance our understanding of the complex evolution of dioecy.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Can AI modelling of protein structures distinguish between sensor and helper NLR immune receptors?

NLR immune receptors can be functionally organized in genetically linked sensor-helper pairs. However, methods to categorize paired NLRs remain limited, primarily relying on the presence of non-canonical domains in some sensor NLRs. Here, we propose that the AI system AlphaFold 3 can classify paired NLR proteins into sensor or helper categories based on predicted structural characteristics. Helper NLRs showed higher AlphaFold 3 confidence scores than sensors when modelled in oligomeric configurations. Furthermore, funnel-shaped structures--essential for activating immune responses--were reliably predicted in helpers but not in sensors. Applying this method to uncharacterized NLR pairs from rice, we found that AlphaFold 3 can differentiate between putative sensors and helpers even when both proteins lack non-canonical domain annotations. These findings suggest that AlphaFold 3 offers a new approach to categorize NLRs and enhances our understanding of the functional configurations in plant immune systems, even in the absence of non-canonical domain annotations.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Impact of rice GENERAL REGULATORY FACTOR14h (GF14h) on low-temperature seed germination and its application to breeding

Direct seeding is employed to circumvent the labor-intensive process of rice (Oryza sativa) transplantation, but this approach requires varieties with vigorous low-temperature germination (LTG) when sown in cold climates. To investigate the genetic basis of LTG, we identified the quantitative trait locus (QTL) qLTG11 from rice variety Arroz da Terra, which shows rapid seed germination at lower temperatures, using QTL-seq. We delineated the candidate region to a 52-kb interval containing GENERAL REGULATORY FACTOR14h (GF14h) gene, which is expressed during seed germination. The Arroz da Terra GF14h allele encodes functional GF14h, whereas Japanese rice variety Hitomebore harbors a 4-bp deletion in the coding region. Knocking out functional GF14h in a near-isogenic line (NIL) carrying the Arroz da Terra allele decreased LTG, whereas overexpressing functional GF14h in Hitomebore increased LTG, indicating that GF14h is the causal gene behind qLTG11. Analysis of numerous Japanese rice accessions revealed that the functional GF14h allele was lost from popular varieties during modern breeding. We generated a NIL in the Hitomebore background carrying a 172-kb genomic fragment from Arroz da Terra including GF14h. The NIL showed superior LTG compared to Hitomebore, with otherwise comparable agronomic traits. The functional GF14h allele from Arroz da Terra represents a valuable resource for direct seeding in cold regions. Author SummaryRice serves as a fundamental crop sustaining over half of the global population. With the rapid growth of the worlds population, it will become increasingly important to improve rice productivity. On the other hand, the aging of rice farmers in Japan has resulted in a constant labor shortage. To address this, direct seeding, in which seeds are sown directly in rice fields without going through the most labor-intensive part of the rice cultivation process, i.e., seedling production and transplanting, has been recommended. However, prevalent elite rice varieties are known to be unsuitable for direct seeding due to their poor seed germination ability under low-temperature conditions. In this study, we show for the first time that GF14h gene from the Portuguese variety Arroz da Terra improves seed germination at low temperatures (LTG). In addition, a novel cross-bred line was generated by introducing the GF14h-containing genomic segment from Arroz da Terra into Hitomebore, a widely cultivated variety in northern Japan. This line is expected to be used as a pre-breeding material to enhance LTG. This study will provide a genetic basis for LTG and contribute to basic and applied research progress.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Zinc-finger (ZiF) fold secreted effectors form a functionally diverse family across lineages of the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae.

Filamentous plant pathogens deliver effector proteins into host cells to suppress host defence responses and manipulate metabolic processes to support colonization. Understanding the evolution and molecular function of these effectors provides knowledge about pathogenesis and can suggest novel strategies to reduce damage caused by pathogens. However, effector proteins are highly variable, share weak sequence similarity and, although they can be grouped according to their structure, only a few structurally conserved effector families have been functionally characterized to date. Here, we demonstrate that Zinc-finger fold (ZiF) secreted proteins form a functionally diverse effector family in the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. This family relies on the Zinc-finger motif for protein stability and is ubiquitously present, forming different effector tribes in blast fungus lineages infecting 13 different host species. Homologs of the canonical ZiF effector, AVR-Pii from rice infecting isolates, are present in multiple M. oryzae lineages, and the wheat infecting strains of the fungus, for example, possess an allele that also binds host Exo70 proteins and activates the immune receptor Pii. Furthermore, ZiF tribes vary in the host Exo70 proteins they bind, indicating functional diversification and an intricate effector/host interactome. Altogether, we uncovered a new effector family with a common protein fold that has functionally diversified in lineages of M. oryzae. This work expands our understanding of the diversity of M. oryzae effectors, the molecular basis of plant pathogenesis and may ultimately facilitate the development of new sources for pathogen resistance. Author SummaryDiseases caused by filamentous plant pathogens impact global food production, leading to severe economic and humanitarian consequences. These pathogens secrete hundreds of effectors inside the host to alter cellular processes and to promote infection and disease. Effector proteins have weak or no sequence similarity but can be grouped in structural families based on conserved protein folds. However, very few conserved effector families have been functionally characterized. We have identified a family of effectors with a shared Zinc-finger protein fold (ZiF) that is present in lineages of the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae that can, collectively, infect 13 different grasses. We characterized the binding of a sub-set of these proteins to putative Exo70 host targets and showed they can be recognized by the plant immune system. Furthermore, we show that other ZiF effectors do not bind Exo70 targets, suggesting functional specialization within this effector family for alternative interactors. These findings shed light on the diversity of effectors and their molecular functions, as well as potentially leading to the development of new sources of blast disease resistance in the future.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Evolution of wheat blast resistance gene Rmg8 accompanied by differentiation of variants recognizing the powdery mildew fungus

Wheat blast, a devastating disease having spread recently from South America to Asia and Africa, is caused by Pyricularia oryzae pathotype Triticum which emerged in 1985. Rmg8 and Rmg7, genes for resistance to wheat blast found in common wheat and tetraploid wheat, respectively, recognize the same avirulence gene, AVR-Rmg8. Here, we show an evolutionary process in which resistance gene(s), which had obtained an ability to recognize AVR-Rmg8 before the differentiation of Triticum and Aegilops, has expanded its target pathogens. Molecular cloning revealed that Rmg7 was one of alleles of Pm4 (Pm4a), a gene for resistance to wheat powdery mildew on 2AL, whereas Rmg8 was its homoeolog on 2BL ineffective against wheat powdery mildew. Rmg8 variants with the ability to recognize AVR-Rmg8 were distributed not only in Triticum spp. but also in Aegilops speltoides, Ae. umbellulata, and Ae. comosa. This result suggests that the origin of resistance gene(s) recognizing AVR-Rmg8 dates back to the time before differentiation of A, B, S, U, and M genomes, that is, [~]5 million years before the emergence of its current target, the wheat blast fungus. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that, in the evolutionary process thereafter, some of their variants gained the ability to recognize the wheat powdery mildew fungus and evolved into genes for resistance to wheat powdery mildew.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Induction of plant disease resistance by mixed oligosaccharide elicitors prepared from plant cell wall and crustacean shells

Basal plant immune responses are activated by the recognition of the conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), or breakdown molecules released from plants after damage by pathogen infection, so-called danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). While chitin-oligosaccharide (CHOS), a primary component of the fungal cell wall, is most known as PAMP, plant cell wall-derived oligosaccharides, cello-oligosaccharides (COS) from cellulose and xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS) from hemicellulose, are representative DAMPs, which activate signaling steps similar to PAMP-induced immunity to elicit defenses and provide protection against pathogens. In this study, elicitor activities of COS prepared from cotton linters, XOS prepared from corn cobs as well as chitin-oligosaccharide (CHOS) from crustacean shells were comparatively investigated. In Arabidopsis, treatment of COS, XOS or CHOS triggered typical defense responses such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, activation of MAP kinases phosphorylation, callose depositions, and activation of the promoter for defense-related transcription factor WRKY33. When COS, XOS and CHOS were used at concentrations with similar activity in inducing ROS production and callose depositions, CHOS was particularly highly potent in activating the MAPK kinases and WRKY33 promoters. Among the COS and XOS with different degrees of polymerization (DP), cellotriose (DP3) and xylotetraose (DP4) showed the highest activity for the activation of WRKY33 promoter. Simultaneous treatment of COS, XOS and CHOS leads to a strong transcriptional change for defense-related genes, and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of RNAseq data revealed that a mixture of three oligosaccharide (oligo-mix) effectively activate the plants disease resistance. In practice, treatment of the oligo-mix enhanced the resistance of tomato to powdery mildew, but plant growth was not inhibited but rather tended to be promoted, providing evidence that mixed oligosaccharides have beneficial effects on improving disease resistance in plants, making them a promising class of compounds for practical application.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Barley MLA3 recognizes the host-specificity determinant PWL2 from rice blast (M. oryzae)

Plant nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat immune receptors (NLRs) directly or indirectly recognize pathogen-secreted effector molecules to initiate plant defense. Recognition of multiple pathogens by a single NLR is rare and usually occurs via monitoring for changes to host proteins; few characterized NLRs have been shown to recognize multiple effectors. The barley NLR Mla has undergone functional diversification and Mla alleles recognize host-adapted isolates of barley powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei; Bgh). Here, we show that Mla3 also confers resistance to rice blast (Magnaporthe oryzae) in a dosage dependent manner. Using a forward genetic screen, we discovered that the recognized effector from M. oryzae is PWL2, a host range determinant factor that prevents M. oryzae from infecting weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula). Mla3 has therefore convergently evolved the capacity to recognize effectors from diverse pathogens.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Tangled gene-for-gene interactions mediate co-evolution of the rice NLR immune receptor Pik and blast fungus effector proteins

Studies focused solely on single organisms can fail to identify the networks underlying host-pathogen gene-for-gene interactions. Here, we integrate genetic analyses of rice (Oryza sativa, host) and rice blast fungus (Magnaporthe oryzae, pathogen) and uncover a new pathogen recognition specificity of the rice nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat protein (NLR) immune receptor Pik, which mediates resistance to M. oryzae expressing the avirulence effector gene AVR-Pik. Rice Piks-1, encoded by an allele of Pik-1, recognizes a previously unidentified effector encoded by the M. oryzae avirulence gene AVR-Mgk1, which is found on a mini-chromosome. AVR-Mgk1 has no sequence similarity to known AVR-Pik effectors, and is prone to deletion from the mini-chromosome mediated by repeated Inago2 retrotransposon sequences. AVR-Mgk1 is detected by Piks-1 and by other Pik-1 alleles known to recognize AVR-Pik effectors; recognition is mediated by AVR-Mgk1 binding to the integrated heavy metal-associated (HMA) domain of Piks-1 and other Pik-1 alleles. Our findings highlight how complex gene-for-gene interaction networks can be disentangled by applying forward genetics approaches simultaneously to the host and pathogen. We demonstrate dynamic co-evolution between an NLR integrated domain and multiple families of effector proteins.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Binding of a blast fungus Zinc-finger fold effector to a hydrophobic pocket in the host exocyst subunit Exo70 modulates immune recognition in rice

Exocytosis plays an important role in plant-microbe interactions, both in pathogenesis and symbiosis. Exo70 proteins are integral components of the exocyst, an octameric complex that mediates tethering of vesicles to membranes in eukaryotes. Although plant Exo70s are known to be targeted by pathogen effectors, the underpinning molecular mechanisms and the impact of this interaction on infection is poorly understood. Here, we show the molecular basis of the association between the effector AVR- Pii of the blast fungus Maganaporthe oryzae and rice Exo70 alleles OsExo70F2 and OsExo70F3, which is sensed by the immune receptor pair Pii via an integrated RIN4/NOI domain. The crystal structure of AVR-Pii in complex with OsExo70F2 reveals that the effector binds to a conserved hydrophobic pocket in Exo70, defining a new effector/target binding interface. Structure-guided and random mutagenesis validates the importance of AVR-Pii residues at the Exo70 binding interface to sustain protein association and disease resistance in rice when challenged with fungal strains expressing effector mutants. Further, the structure of AVR-Pii defines a novel Zinc- finger effector fold (ZiF) distinct from the MAX fold previously described for the majority of characterized M. oryzae effectors. Our data suggests that blast fungus ZiF effectors bind a conserved Exo70 interface to manipulate plant exocytosis and that these effectors are also baited by plant immune receptors, pointing to new opportunities for engineering disease resistance. Significance statementPlant diseases destroy [~]20-30% of annual crop production, contributing to global food insecurity. Discovering how pathogen effectors target host proteins to promote virulence is essential for understanding pathogenesis and can be used for developing disease resistant crops. Here, we reveal the structural basis of how an effector from the blast pathogen (AVR-Pii) binds a specific host target (rice Exo70), and how this underpins immune recognition. This has implications for understanding the molecular mechanisms of blast disease and for the engineering of new recognition specificities in plant immune receptors to confer resistance to a major crop pathogen.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Effector target-guided engineering of an integrated domain expands the disease resistance profile of a rice NLR immune receptor

A subset of plant intracellular NLR immune receptors detect effector proteins, secreted by phytopathogens to promote infection, through unconventional integrated domains which resemble the effectors host targets. Direct binding of effectors to these integrated domains activates plant defences. The rice NLR receptor Pik-1 binds the Magnaporthe oryzae effector AVR-Pik through an integrated heavy metal-associated (HMA) domain. However, the stealthy alleles AVR-PikC and AVR-PikF avoid interaction with Pik-HMA and evade host defences. Here, we exploited knowledge of the biochemical interactions between AVR-Pik and its host target, OsHIPP19, to engineer novel Pik-1 variants that respond to AVR-PikC/F. First, we exchanged the HMA domain of Pikp-1 for OsHIPP19-HMA, demonstrating that effector targets can be incorporated into NLR receptors to provide novel recognition profiles. Second, we used the structure of OsHIPP19-HMA to guide mutagenesis of Pikp-HMA to expand its recognition profile. We demonstrate that the extended recognition profiles of engineered Pikp-1 variants correlate with effector binding in planta and in vitro, and with the gain of new contacts across the effector/HMA interface. Crucially, transgenic rice producing the engineered Pikp-1 variants were resistant to blast fungus isolates carrying AVR-PikC or AVR-PikF. These results demonstrate that effector target-guided engineering of NLR receptors can provide new-to- nature disease resistance in crops. Graphical abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=186 HEIGHT=200 SRC="FIGDIR/small/496076v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (77K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@23ec35org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@68b093org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1209ab2org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@18c4adb_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Whole genome sequencing of a wild yam species Dioscorea tokoro reveals a genomic region associated with sex

Dioscorea tokoro is a wild species distributed in East Asia including Japan. Typical of the genus Dioscorea, D. tokoro is dioecious with male and female flowers borne on separate individuals. To understand its sex determination system and to serve as a model species for population genomics of obligate outcrossing wild species, we set out to determine the whole genome sequence of the species. Here we show 443 Mb genome sequence of D. tokoro distributed over 2,931 contigs that were anchored on 10 linkage groups. Linkage analysis of sex in a segregating F1 family revealed a sex determination locus residing on Pseudochromosome 3 with XY-type male heterogametic sex determination system.

plant biology↗