Transposable elements drive the subgenomic divergence of homoeologous genes to shape wheat domestication and improvement.

ABSTRACT: Polyploidization is a fundamental evolutionary process in plants, including bread wheat. In the present study, we performed a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of dynamic homoeologous gene divergence in Aikang58 (AK58), a modern elite polyploid wheat cultivar with a recently released reference genome, and in other wheat genomes, including landraces, synthetic wheat, and several breeding lines. Over 40% of transposable element (TE) families exhibit biased distribution across the three wheat subgenomes. Approximately 95.0% (113 421) of genes are co-located with TEs, and these variable TEs significantly contribute to homoeologous divergence. We found that about 80% of triad homoeologs are divergent due to differences in expression or sub-functionalization. In addition, subgenome divergence p

SUBMITTER: Jia J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12177504 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature