Scientists Sequence Genomes of Over 1,100 Flowering Plant Species in Groundbreaking Study

An international team of 279 scientists has sequenced the genomes of more than 1,100 flowering plant species, providing the most comprehensive understanding of plant evolution and diversity to date. The study, led by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, analyzed 1.8 billion letters of genetic code from over 9,500 species, revealing new insights into how plants are related and how their diversity has changed over time.

The researchers used advanced genomic techniques to sequence DNA from a wide range of plant material, including old and damaged specimens from historic herbarium collections, as well as extinct species. This allowed them to fill key knowledge gaps and strengthen our understanding of plant evolution. The study involved 138 organizations from 27 countries and utilized 15 times more data than any previous comparable study.

Why this matters: The findings from this large-scale project are expected to aid future efforts in plant conservation, sustainable agriculture, and the identification of new species and medicinal compounds. The tree of life and data will be made openly accessible to the public and scientific community, providing an invaluable resource for biodiversity research.

The study reveals that flowering plants originated more than 140 million years ago and rapidly overtook other vascular plants, a phenomenon that had puzzled scientists for generations, including Charles Darwin. The researchers found that early flowering plants experienced an initial explosion in diversity, followed by a steadier rate of diversification for the next 100 million years, and then another surge in diversification about 40 million years ago, coinciding with a global decline in temperatures.

"The vast amount of data unlocked by this research offers a unique opportunity to reevaluate and extend the knowledge of the plant tree of life, opening a new window to explore the complexity of plant evolution," said Professor Alexandre Antonelli, Director of Science at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Among the species sequenced, more than 800 have never had their DNA analyzed before. The study also successfully sequenced a sandwort specimen collected nearly 200 years ago in Nepal and an extinct Guadalupe Island olive plant. Notably, the researchers found that 511 of the sequenced species are already at risk of extinction according to the IUCN Red List.

The study, published in the journal Nature, represents a major milestone for plant science and the Kew Tree of Life Initiative. It demonstrates the value of open science, collaborative efforts, and the importance of herbarium collections in advancing our understanding of plant evolution and diversity. As Dr. Norman Wickett from Clemson University stated, "The tree of life enables researchers to understand how different plant species are related and how their diversity has changed over time, which can inform conservation efforts."

Key Takeaways

• Sequenced genomes of 1,100+ flowering plant species, largest study to date
• Findings to aid plant conservation, agriculture, and new species/medicinal discovery
• Flowering plants originated >140M years ago, experienced diversification surges
• Sequenced 800+ species never analyzed before, 511 already at risk of extinction
• Demonstrates value of open science, collaboration, and herbarium collections