When one reference genome is not enough

(DOE/Joint Genome Institute) Having plant pan-genomes for crops that are important for fuel and food applications would enable breeders to harness natural diversity to improve traits such as yield, disease resistance, and tolerance of marginal growing conditions. In Nature Communications, an international team led by researchers at the Joint Genome Institute gauged the size of a plant pan-genome using Brachypodium distachyon, a wild grass widely used as a model for grain and biomass crops.