Perspectives on Genetics and Genomics of the Brassicaceae

Abstract

The Arabidopsis thaliana genome project laid the foundation for the advancement of structural and functional genomics in this species which resulted in an ever-increasing understanding of a multitude of processes at the molecular level. Ongoing progress in high-throughput genome sequencing technologies will now allow for a boost of genome sequencing activities in various Brassicaceae species, accessions, and even populations. Such studies will provide unique insights into the evolution of plant genomes and may ultimately advance breeding of the Brassica crops. The development of genome-wide transcriptome analyses in Brassicaceae species other than A. thaliana will also heavily depend on the rapid advancement of cost-effective high-throughput sequencing technologies. Important contributions to fields as diverse as developmental biology, evolutionary biology, population genetics, plant physiology, and ecology can be expected since genetically tractable Brassicaceae species that are particularly suitable for the study of a specific trait and/or adaptation are currently developed as additional model systems.