Driven in part by the increased emphasis to give life sciences students hands-on experience in “real research,” the DOE Joint Genome Institute’s Genomics and Bioinformatics Education Program developed a series of educational modules for undergraduate programs to explore and annotate publicly available microbial genome datasets. Known collectively as the Integrated Microbial Genomes Annotation Collaboration Toolkit…
Lessons learned from comparing Cochliobolus fungi
Cochliobolus fungi are cereal grain pathogens in the Dothideomycetes class, and many species are known to infect crops such as corn, rice, barley, wheat and oats, causing severe losses at harvest time and to biomass feedstocks for biofuels. In a study published January 24, 2013 in Plos Genetics, one in a series of publications concerning…
DOE JGI team recognized for cotton genome project
“As part of the recent Plant and Animal Genomic Conference held in San Diego, Dr. Don Jones of Cotton Incorporated presented the 2012 Cotton Biotechnology Award to five outstanding researchers that were instrumental in mapping the cotton genome. The diverse and talented team, composed of Dr. Andrew Paterson, Dr. Jonathan Wendel, Mr. Jeremy Schmutz, Dr. Dan Peterson, and Dr. Dan Rokhsar led the collaborative…
A fungal pathogen with a “genetically flexible” genome
In 2012, the damp winter threatened the wheat harvest in the state of Kansas, the nation’s single largest producer of the grain and wheat prices rose by 10 percent as a result. Diseases such as tan spot caused by the fungus Pyrenophoratritici-repentis (Ptr) factored into the reduced wheat harvests. In North Dakota, which ranks second…
DOE JGI Science Highlight: Benefits of “diversity-driven genome sequencing” in CyanoGEBA
Despite their miniscule size, cyanobacteria play significant roles in the global carbon and nitrogen cycles. Researchers are also looking at utilizing them for biofuel and biotechnology applications. In an effort to learn more about the diverse strains in this phylum, DOE Joint Genome Institute scientist Cheryl Kerfeldis leading an effort called CyanoGEBAto increase the number…
Cotton genome project in Central Valley Business Times
“This collaborative effort has yielded a wealth of information that will help scientists better understand the basic biology of cotton and enhance the sustainable production of this globally important crop,” says plant scientist Allen Van Deynze, who led UC Davis’ participation in the sequencing project. Read more in the Central Valley Business Times
A Gossypium genome to cotton on to cellulose biosynthesis
Growing, processing and manufacturing cotton is a major global industry. In the United States, more than 200,000 domestic jobs are related to cotton production and processing, with an aggregate influence of about $35 billion on the annual U.S. gross domestic product. The fibers that have woven themselves into so many lives, however, are seen by…
Cotton genome project in AL.com
If researchers’ plans spin out as they hope, King Cotton may get a new title as a Super Plant of the 21st century…. While most U.S. cotton is used in textile production, researchers say it could become an important part of biofuel production and bioremediation. Full story at AL.com
Unraveling the Threads: Simplest cotton genome offers clues for fiber improvements
From the stockings decorating mantles to the new outfits in display windows calling to shoppers, cotton is woven into the fabric of the holiday season. For bioenergy researchers, however, fiber composition matters more than color and texture as each cotton strand is composed of more than two dozen coils of cellulose, a target biomass for…
Lifestyles of a fungal plant pathogen family
The fungi that belong to the Dothideomycetes family are found on every continent and can tolerate a wide range of environmental extremes. Additionally, several of the fungi are plant pathogens that infect nearly every major crop used for food, fiber or fuel. In the December 6, 2012 issue of PLoS Pathogens, an international team led…