Somaclonal variation and induced mutation are highly valuable sources of genetic variation for genetic improvement and research in horticultural crops; cellular and molecular characterization can ...greatly facilitate their uses in these areas. In the present study, 20 caladium variants were identified among ‘Tapestry’ plants that were regenerated from leaf cultures treated with or without colchicine. These variants showed changes in leaf main vein color and coloration pattern and were separated into ten groups based on leaf morphological changes. Five variants contained 3.3–9.7% more nuclear DNA than the wildtype and gained one, two or three chromosomes, while four variants contained 3.0–4.8% less nuclear DNA and lost one chromosome. Five, out of 22, simple sequence repeat-based molecular markers detected DNA banding pattern changes in 13 of the 20 variants. Two molecular markers (CaM24 and CaM62) detected DNA banding pattern changes in the same four variants, suggesting that these two markers may be located in the same chromosomal segment. Strong association between leaf characteristics (leaf blotching and main vein color) and molecular banding pattern changes with molecular marker CaM42 were observed in six variants, indicating that CaM42 may be associated with gene loci controlling leaf blotching and leaf main vein color in caladium.
Key message
Detailed characterization of ‘Tapestry’ caladium variants revealed changes in nuclear DNA content, chromosome number and molecular marker banding pattern and associated gene loci controlling leaf characters with molecular markers.
Roots are vital to plant survival and crop yield, yet few efforts have been made to characterize the expressed genes in the roots of non-model plants (root transcriptomes). This study was conducted ...to sequence, assemble, annotate, and characterize the root transcriptomes of three caladium cultivars (
×
) using RNA-Seq. The caladium cultivars used in this study have different levels of resistance to
, the most damaging necrotrophic pathogen to caladium roots. Forty-six to 61 million clean reads were obtained for each caladium root transcriptome. De novo assembly of the reads resulted in approximately 130,000 unigenes. Based on bioinformatic analysis, 71,825 (52.3%) caladium unigenes were annotated for putative functions, 48,417 (67.4%) and 31,417 (72.7%) were assigned to Gene Ontology (GO) and Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG), respectively, and 46,406 (64.6%) unigenes were assigned to 128 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. A total of 4518 distinct unigenes were observed only in
-resistant "Candidum" roots, of which 98 seemed to be involved in disease resistance and defense responses. In addition, 28,837 simple sequence repeat sites and 44,628 single nucleotide polymorphism sites were identified among the three caladium cultivars. These root transcriptome data will be valuable for further genetic improvement of caladium and related aroids.
This study presents the first annotated, haplotype-resolved, chromosome-scale genome of
Lantana camara
, a flowering shrub native to Central America and known for its dual role as an ornamental plant ...and an invasive species. Despite its widespread cultivation and ecological impact, the lack of a high-quality genome has hindered the investigation of traits of both ornamental and invasive. This research bridges the gap in genomic resources for
L. camara
, which is crucial for both ornamental breeding programs and invasive species management. Whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing were utilized to elucidate the genetic complexity of a diploid
L. camara
breeding line UF-T48. The genome was assembled de novo using HiFi and Hi-C reads, resulting in two phased genome assemblies with high Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) scores of 97.7%, indicating their quality. All 22 chromosomes were assembled with pseudochromosomes averaging 117 Mb. The assemblies revealed 29 telomeres and an extensive presence of repetitive sequences, primarily long terminal repeat transposable elements. The genome annotation identified 83,775 protein-coding genes, with 83% functionally annotated. In particular, the study mapped 42 anthocyanin and carotenoid candidate gene clusters and 12 herbicide target genes to the assembly, identifying 38 genes spread across the genome that are integral to flower color development and 53 genes for herbicide targeting in
L. camara
. This comprehensive genomic study not only enhances the understanding of
L. camara’s
genetic makeup but also sets a precedent for genomic research in the Verbenaceae family, offering a foundation for future studies in plant genetics, conservation, and breeding.
Caladiums are commonly grown in containers, hanging baskets or planted directly in the landscape as accent and border plants. Florida growers supply the majority of the caladium tubers used ...throughout the United States and around the world. The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has maintained a caladium breeding program at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC). This program released three new caladium cultivars, ‘Cosmic Delight’, ‘Fiesta’, and ‘Hearts Desire’, in 2015. This publication describes the origin and plant characteristics of these new cultivars, their tuber yield potential in production trials, and plant performances in container and landscape trials. These new cultivar introductions will be valuable to the Florida caladium tuber-production industry, the greenhouse/nursery industries, and commercial landscape maintenance companies.
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