A wealth of genes for seed improvement uncovered in living fossils

A wealth of genes for seed improvement uncovered in living fossils

Seed plants are essential as a source of food, fuel, medicine, and more. Now, a multidisciplinary team of researchers has combined deep botanical knowledge with powerful genomic technology to decode and mine the DNA of non-flowering seed plants and uncover genes that evolved to help plants build seeds.

Ancient Pinecone Genes Reveal a Hidden Blueprint for Stronger, Smarter Crops

A team from New York University and the New York Botanical Garden decoded the genetic story of seed evolution, uncovering 4,000 ovule genes that link ancient gymnosperms to modern crops. The findings could help seed companies unlock new pathways for stress tolerance, seed vigor and productivity. The post Ancient Pinecone Genes Reveal a Hidden Blueprint for Stronger, Smarter Crops appeared first on Seed World.