Plant Genomes

The fourth volume of ‘Genome Dynamics’is dedicated to ‘Plant Genomes’. In 2000, the sequencing of the genome of the thale cress Arabidopsis thaliana has opened a new era of plant genomics. In the mean time, genome sequences have been completed for additional plants including rice and grapevine, and an important amount of data is already available for many other species. As a consequence, comparative genomics has completely modified our vision of the structure and evolution of plant genomes, with important implications for plant physiology, developmental biology, genetics and evolution as well as obvious applications in the field of agriculture. This volume of ‘Genome Dynamics’ aims to reflect the astonishing plasticity of plant genomes and to present the molecular and evolutionary processes involved in genome and biological diversity. Particular emphasis is given on the evolutionary impact of genome duplications and transposable elements.

Recent progress in the understanding of the evolution of protein-coding gene families and microRNAs are reviewed, with specific focus on the evolutionary consequences of gene duplication. Mechanisms involved in size variations are also discussed, as well as new insights into the structure and evolution of sex chromosomes and centromeres. Analyses included in this book range from wide comparisons between very divergent plant species to deep studies of specific models such as rice and maize.