Plant Gene and Trait 2024, Vol.15, No.2, 62-72 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/pgt 64 Figure 1 Evolutionary history of S. spontaneumchromosomesa (Adopted from Zhang et al., 2018) Image caption: The image appears to be a complex diagram illustrating the evolutionary history and genome organization of a particular plant species, likely sorghum, and its related species. The diagram is divided into three main sections labeled (a), (b), and (c) (Adopted from Zhang et al., 2018) 3.3 Historical overview of gene duplication events in sugarcane Gene duplication is a prominent feature in the evolution of plant genomes, including sugarcane. Duplication events have played a significant role in the expansion and functional diversification of gene families in sugarcane. For instance, the CIPK gene family in Saccharum spontaneumhas undergone multiple duplication events, driven by whole-genome duplications (WGDs) (Su et al., 2020). These duplications have contributed to the genetic complexity and adaptability of sugarcane, allowing it to respond to various environmental stresses (McIntyre et al., 2005; Su et al., 2020). The divergence of duplicated genes, often under strong purifying selection, has led to the development of novel traits and enhanced stress tolerance (Su et al., 2020). 3.4 Case studies, key gene duplications and their phenotypic manifestations Several key gene duplications in sugarcane have been linked to important phenotypic traits. For example, the duplication of CIPK genes has been associated with responses to abiotic stresses such as salinity and drought (Su et al., 2020). The expression patterns of these duplicated genes under stress conditions suggest their involvement in stress signaling pathways, contributing to the resilience of sugarcane (Su et al., 2020). Another study identified multiple marker-trait associations (MTAs) through genome-wide association studies (GWAS), linking specific genetic loci to yield component traits such as stalk height, stalk number, and cane yield (Barreto et al., 2016; Yang et al., 2020). These findings highlight the role of gene duplication in enhancing the genetic diversity and trait variability in sugarcane, providing valuable targets for breeding programs aimed at improving crop performance (Barreto et al., 2016; Yang et al., 2020; Zan et al., 2020). Gene duplication has been a driving force in the evolution and diversification of sugarcane, contributing to its genetic complexity and adaptability. Understanding
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