Structural variants contribute to phenotypic variation in maize.

Comprehensively identifying the loci shaping trait variation has been challenging, in part because standard approaches often miss many types of genetic variants. Structural variants (SVs), especially transposable elements (TEs), are likely to affect phenotypic variation but we lack methods that can detect polymorphic structural variants and TEs using short-read sequencing data. Here, we used a whole genome alignment between two maize genotypes to identify polymorphic structural variants and then genotyped a large maize diversity panel for these variants using short-read sequencing data.

Together inbreeding and reproductive compensation favor lethal t-haplotypes.

Male mice who are heterozygous for distorting and non-distorting alleles at the t-haplotype transmit the driving t-haplotype around 90% of the time-a drastic departure from Mendelian expectations. This selfish act comes at a cost. The mechanism underlying transmission distortion in this system causes severe sterility in males homozygous for the drive alleles, ultimately preventing its fixation.

Molecular phylogeny and morphology reveal two new graminicolous species, and . with new records of spp from Sri Lanka.

Despite being a small island, Sri Lanka is rich in fungal diversity. Most of the fungi from Sri Lanka have been identified as pathogens of vegetables, fruits, and plantation crops to date. The pleosporalean genus () includes phytopathogenic, saprobic, endophytic, and human/animal opportunistic pathogenic fungal species.

Combined analysis of transposable elements and structural variation in maize genomes reveals genome contraction outpaces expansion.

Structural differences between genomes are a major source of genetic variation that contributes to phenotypic differences. Transposable elements, mobile genetic sequences capable of increasing their copy number and propagating themselves within genomes, can generate structural variation. However, their repetitive nature makes it difficult to characterize fine-scale differences in their presence at specific positions, limiting our understanding of their impact on genome variation.