8 New Citrus Genomes Sequenced from Mandarin, Pummelo and Orange

Sequences from mandarin (Citrus reticulata) cultivars 'Clementine', 'Ponkan' and 'Willowleaf', pummelo (Citrus maxima) cv 'Chandler' and a low acid genotype, sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) cv 'Ridge Pineapple' and the Seville sour orange (Citrus x aurantium) have been released recently, along with analysis and insights into their origin and domestication in the journal Nature Biotechnology.  In addition to supplying several high quality genomic sequences, this work also sheds lights on the ancestral history of traditional mandarin, pummelo and sweet oranges. In particular, it reveals a genetic bottleneck in pummelo history, lower than expected diversity among mandarins and apparent admixture with pummelo's in the mandarin accessions sequenced. The results also cement the roles Citrus maxima (pummelo) and citrus reticulata (mandarins) played in the origin of modern cultivated citrus and highlights genetic material that likely originated from a wild mandarin. These insights into the origin and relationsips of sweet orange will help geneticists and breeders approach their work with more precision and and will ultimately enable them to broaden the genetic base of cultivated orange so the crop can better respond to environmental challenges. 

Scientific Abstract:


The open-access article can be read here