The Sorghum bicolor genome and the diversification of grasses

Sorghum, an African grass related to sugar cane and maize, is grown for food, feed, fibre and fuel. We present an initial analysis of the ∼730-megabase Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench genome, placing ∼98% of genes in their chromosomal context using whole-genome shotgun sequence validated by genetic, physical and syntenic information. Genetic recombination is largely confined to about one-third of the sorghum genome with gene order and density similar to those of rice. Retrotransposon accumulation in recombinationally recalcitrant heterochromatin explains the ∼75% larger genome size of sorghum compared with rice. Although gene and repetitive DNA distributions have been preserved since palaeopolyploidization ∼70…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: 0115903, 9872649, 0450260
• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy
• UD
  U.S. Department of Agriculture
• JS
  John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
• JG
  Joint Genome Institute
• AR
  Agricultural Research Service
• DO
  Division of Biological Infrastructure