GoKawiilStudy finds sedge Rhynchospora tenuis reproduces sexually without chromosome crossovers
Researchers sequenced and analyzed genomes of the sedge Rhynchospora tenuis and a related species, R. austrobrasiliensis, using PacBio HiFi and Hi-C sequencing alongside cytological studies of meiosis. They found that R. tenuis undergoes sexual reproduction but skips the genetic recombination step known as crossing over, producing offspring genetically similar to clones despite reproducing through pollen and eggs.
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Crossing over is normally essential for shuffling genetic material during sexual reproduction, so a plant that reproduces sexually while avoiding it blurs the line between sexual and asexual inheritance. Understanding this mechanism could reveal new ways plants preserve advantageous gene combinations, with potential applications in crop breeding where breeders often want to lock in specific traits without recombination disrupting them.
- R. tenuis achieves clonal-like genetic outcomes through a sexual process lacking meiotic crossovers.
- The study combined PacBio HiFi, Hi-C, and Illumina sequencing with detailed meiotic cytology across nine plant accessions.
- Findings could inform strategies for fixing desirable genetic traits in plant breeding without full asexual reproduction.
Source: nature.com — Zhang, 2026-09-16
Published there as: “Sex without crossovers mimics clonal reproduction in <i>Rhynchospora tenuis</i>”
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