The SOL Genomics Network: a comparative resource for Solanaceae biology and beyond

Area of Science:

• Plant genomics
• Bioinformatics
• Comparative biology

Background:

• The Solanaceae family includes vital crops like tomato, potato, and pepper.
• Comparative genomics is crucial for understanding plant evolution and traits.
• The SOL Genomics Network (SGN) serves as a central hub for Solanaceae research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a comparative genomics resource for Solanaceae species.
• To integrate diverse datasets including genetic maps, sequence data, and phenotypic information.
• To support the International Solanaceae Project (SOL) and the tomato genome sequencing initiative.

Main Methods:

• Developing a comparative genomics approach to relate Solanaceae species.
• Housing and integrating map, marker, and expressed sequence tag (EST) data.
• Collaborating on bioinformatics infrastructure for genome sequencing projects.

Main Results:

• SGN provides access to map and marker data, unigene sets, and phenotypic data.
• It offers tools like real-time quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis.
• SGN is actively involved in the bioinformatics strategy for the tomato genome sequencing project.

Conclusions:

• SGN facilitates a systems-level approach to studying adaptation and phenotypic diversity in Solanaceae.
• The resource aims to connect Solanaceae genomics with other dicots, using Arabidopsis as a reference.
• SGN's intuitive comparative format supports broader investigations into plant biology within the Asterid clade.