So far, the oldest plant genomic decision

Science and Technology Daily, Beijing, September 6 (Reporter Liu Xia) A watermelon seeds in the Neolithic Age collected in the archaeological site of the Sahara Desert in Libya have been sequensed, and the oldest plant genome has been decippy. Sequential sequencing watermelon seeds 6000 years ago provided new clues for the domestication of watermelon, which helps to study how to enhance the ability of watermelon to resist drought and disease and insect pests. Related papers are published in the recent "Molecular Biology and Evolution" magazine.

Scientists generally believe that watermelon comes from Africa, but when and where to domesticate the red and sweet watermelon from wild watermelon is still a mystery. Earlier, it was believed that watermelon was most likely to first be domesticated in the Nile River Basin and the current North Sudan, but in the early 1990s, scientists found suspected watermelon seeds in the Uan Mujag site in the Neolithic Shishi era in Libya. They were confused.

In order to better understand the course of watermelon from wild plants to domesticated crops, the researchers collected and analyzed the seeds of dozens of watermelon and watermelon -pro -cultivation collected by the Qiuyuan Plant Specification Museum of the Royal Botanical Garden in the United Kingdom. They also obtained and studied seed fossils from Libya and Sudan, and their radioactive carbon age (C-14) was 6000 and 3,000 years ago, respectively.

One of the research leaders, Dr. Ji Lam Jimi Kiki of Shefield University in the United Kingdom, and others from the seeds collected by Libya and Sudan and the seeds collected by the plant specimen library to generate genome sequences, and the important species of these data and collection are important species. The genome of the quality re -sequentially analyzed together. They found that the oldest seeds came from a plant called Egusi melon. EGUSI melon is a watermelon currently limited by West Africa. Because this kind of watermelon flesh contains gourdin, they are bitter when they eat raw, and they are not edible. They are replaced by their seeds. They are used in stew and soup. The size and taste are similar to pumpkin seeds.

By better understanding the genetic composition of these ancient fruits, researchers hope to more clearly describe the domestication process of watermelon. In addition, drawing charts for thousands of years of genetic exchange will also help scientists to determine favorable genetic characteristics and enhance plant pairs of plant pairs Drought, disease and pest resistance.

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