The Mystery Solved: A-Genome Origin of Cultivated Diploid and Tetraploid Cottons

Controversial concepts surrounding A-genome origins have hindered effective exploitation of cultivated diploid and tetraploid cotton genomes. Our recent study, published in Nature Genetics (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-020-0607-4), analyzed the four cultivated cotton species and revealed that the speciation of diploids G. herbaceum (A₁) and G. arboretum (A₂) evolved independently after the formation of tetraploids G. hirsutum (AD₁) and G. barbadense (AD₂). All existing A-genomes may have originated from a common ancestor (A₀) which was more related to A₁ than A₂. This talk will present new genomic insights and sequence resources for cotton genetic improvement.