Genomics-based plant germplasm research(GPGR)

Plant germplasm underpins much of crop genetic improvement.Millions of germplasm accessions have been collected and conserved ex situ and/or in situ,and the major challenge is now how to exploit and utilize this abundant resource.Genomics-based plant germplasm research(GPGR) or "Genoplasmics" is a novel cross-disciplinary research field that seeks to apply the principles and techniques of genomics to germplasm research.We describe in this paper the concept,strategy,and approach behind GPGR,and summarize current progress in the areas of the definition and construction of core collections,enhancement of germplasm with core collections,and gene discovery from core collections.GPGR is opening a new era in germplasm research.The contribution,progress and achievements of GPGR in the future are predicted.

Discovery of daspyromycins A and B,2-aminovinyl-cysteine containing lanthipeptides,through a genomics-based approach

Lanthipeptides are one of the largest groups of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides(RiPPs)and are characterized by the presence of lanthionine(Lan)or methyllanthionine residues(MeLan).Only very few lanthipeptides contain a C-terminal 2-aminovinyl-cysteine(AviCys)motif,but all of them show potent antibacterial activities.Recent advances of genome sequencing led to the rapid accumulation of new biosynthetic gene clusters(BGCs)for lanthipeptides.In this study,through our genome mining strategy,we found the AviCys containing lanthipeptides are widespread in the bacterial kingdom.A lanthipeptide-type biosynthetic gene cluster was identified from public bacterial genome database.Two new lanthipeptides,daspyromycins A and B(1 and 2)containing AviCys motif,along with two degraded products,daspyromycins C and D(3 and 4),were obtained after heterologous expression of the gene cluster in Streptomyces albus J1074.Daspyromycins A and B showed potent antimicrobial activity against a spectrum of Gram-positive and-negative bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci(VRE).

New and Emerging Genomics-based Approaches in Crop Breeding

Rapid progress in genome sequencing has enabled develop- ments of new powerful approaches for fast-forward genetic study. Sequencing-based genotyping and genome-wide associ- ation mapping advanced crop functional genomic study. Genome sequence information can be applied in various ways for crop improvement. One of the goals of this special issue is to review the progresses of developments of functional genomics in three crops of rice, soybean and cotton as well as a vegetable crop of tomato. Rice （Oryza sativa L.） is the staple food for more than half of the world population. Soybean and cotton are the most important economic crops. Solanum represents one of the most diverse plant genera and used widely around the world. In this issue, six papers report development of genomics approaches on crop genetic studies. Below we highlight some of the advances noted in this special issue.