Salt Cress Genome Yields New Clues to Salt Tolerance

The Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Science and the Beijing Genomics Institute collaborated in the completion of the genomic sequence and analysis of salt cress (Thellungiella salsuginea), a wide salt tolerant plant. The research finding published online in the Proceedings of National Academy of Science revealed the draft sequence of salt cress with about 134-fold coverage. The final length of the assembled sequences reached 233.7 Mb that covers 90% of the estimated ~260 Mb size. The researchers were able to predict a total of 28,457 protein-coding regions in the sequenced salt cress genome.

Junyi Wang, Director of Science & Technology, Research & Cooperation Center of BGI said, "Salt cress provides an excellent model and opportunity for researchers to explore plant's mechanisms of abiotic stress tolerance. The completed genomic sequence of salt cress will boost the advancement of stress tolerance research as well as provide a valuable theoretic instruct and technical support for researchers worldwide to better face the challenges of the soil salinization in irrigation area, the development and utilization of shallow offshore waters and beaches, and food security."

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