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Convergent Evolution of the Seed Shattering Trait
Valerio Di Vittori1, Tania Gioia2, Monica Rodriguez3
1Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari ed Ambientali, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy. valeriodivittori@gmail.com.
Genes
|January 24, 2019
Summary
Seed shattering loss is vital for crop domestication, enabling easier harvesting. This review explores tissue modifications and genetic controls behind this convergent evolution across diverse crops like legumes and cereals.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Crop science
- Evolutionary biology
Background:
- Seed shattering is a natural trait in wild plants for seed dispersal.
- Loss of seed shattering is a crucial domestication trait for efficient crop harvesting.
- This trait evolved convergently across diverse plant species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on seed shattering in crops.
- To highlight tissue modifications underlying convergent evolution of reduced shattering.
- To discuss parallel histological and molecular changes in seed shattering.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of seed shattering research.
- Analysis of tissue modifications in various fruit types (siliques, pods, spikes).
- Examination of genetic control mechanisms in model and crop species.
Main Results:
- Convergent evolution of reduced seed shattering involves diverse tissue modifications.
- Legumes, particularly common bean, show specific adaptations.
- Parallel histological and molecular changes contribute to convergent phenotypes.
Conclusions:
- Understanding seed shattering evolution aids crop improvement.
- Tissue-level adaptations are key to reduced shattering.
- Genetic insights from model species inform crop breeding strategies.
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