The Medicago genome provides insight into the evolution of rhizobial symbioses

Sequencing of Medicago truncatula, a model organism of legume biology, shows that genome duplications had a role in the evolution of endosymbiotic nitrogen fixation. Legumes are unusual among plants in that they can carry out endosymbiotic nitrogen fixation with rhizobial bacteria. The genome of Medicago truncatula (also known as barrel medic or barrel clover), a well-established model for the study of legume biology, has now been sequenced. Genome analysis shows that M. truncatula has undergone several rounds of whole-genome duplication, and that the duplication that took place approximately 58 million years ago played an important part in the evolution of endosymbiotic nitrogen fixation. Legumes (Fabaceae or…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: 0321460, 0821966, 0604966, 0605251, 0820005
• UD
  U.S. Department of Agriculture
• UO
  University of Minnesota
• AN
  Agence Nationale de la Recherche

  Awards: ANR-10-LABX-41, ANR-10, 10-LABX-41
• BF
  Belgian Federal Science Policy Office

  Award: IUAP P6/25
• UG
  Universiteit Gent
• VR
  Vlaamse regering
• CS
  Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
• BA
  Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

  Awards: BB/I025441/1, BB/G023832/1
• DO
  Division of Integrative Organismal Systems