Meiotic recombination in natural and experimental plant populations

Summary

The full complement of genetic information for each living organism, commonly referred to as a genome, is contained within its DNA. Sexually reproducing organisms, whose genetic characteristics are derived from the parental organisms, produce offspring that have a unique mix of the genetic information from both parents. The biological process that ensures the shuffling or mixing of DNA is known as meiotic recombination. The recombinational exchange of genetic information in the DNA occurs by what is known as crossover and can be used for breeding of crops with new and desirable combinations of traits, such resilience to changing climate condition and diseases and productivity that alleviates food insecurity. However, crossovers can only occur in limited parts of the genome, restricting the breeders from generating many more varieties with diverse characteristics. In this thesis, the author developed a method to detect crossover events and identified genetic factors that influence their localization. Furthermore, this study explores the changes in recombination events in tomato compared to its wild relatives. The results emphasize the crucial importance of studying meiotic recombination to help accelerate breeding.