Publications by authors named "S L Smit"
With advances in long-read sequencing and assembly techniques, haplotype-resolved (phased) genome assemblies are becoming more common, also in the field of plant genomics. Computational tools to effectively explore these phased genomes, particularly for polyploid genomes, are currently limited. Here we describe a new strategy adopting a pangenome approach.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: We aimed to describe SARS-CoV-2 lineages and diversity in children and adults in Estonia and similarity to travel-related cases and neighbouring countries.
Methods: SARS-CoV-2 sequences in 2021-2022 from a nationwide study were included. The proportion of predominant lineages in Estonian regions and among travel-related cases was described by multinomial logistic regression.
Background: Breeding of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), the most important leafy vegetable worldwide, for enhanced disease resistance and resilience relies on multiple wild relatives to provide the necessary genetic diversity. In this study, we constructed a super-pangenome based on four Lactuca species (representing the primary, secondary and tertiary gene pools) and comprising 474 accessions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Natural populations of Arabidopsis thaliana, particularly from the Netherlands, were studied to understand how plants adapt to subtle environmental changes despite a generally mild climate.
- The research identified key genetic variations, including mutations in the GA5 gene leading to semidwarf accessions with better wind tolerance and the FSD3 gene affecting iron deficiency tolerance.
- The findings suggest that genetic diversity in this localized population is comparable to broader global collections, providing insights into the genetic mechanisms behind plant adaptation to environmental factors like drought and nutrient availability.
Article Synopsis
- The study examined how different diets for European seabass affect the composition of their faeces, particularly focusing on the nutrients that remain undigested and the potential for those faeces to produce organic acids through anaerobic digestion.
- Researchers tested faecal samples from six different diets in anoxic conditions to analyze nutrient solubilization and the yield of organic acids over a 14-day period.
- Findings indicated that faeces with higher protein relative to carbohydrates produced more organic acids, especially acetate, while the overall bacterial diversity in the faeces remained similar despite some variations in specific genera.