Dr. Z. Jeffrey Chen

Contact: Dr. Z. Jeffrey Chen zjchen@mail.utexas.edu 512-475-9327 University of Texas at Austin
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"Before this discovery, no one really knew how hybridization and polyploidy led to increased vigor," says lead author Dr. Jeffrey Chen, the D. J. Sibley Centennial Professor of Plant Molecular Genetics. "This is certainly not the only mechanism behind this phenomenon, but it is a big step forward."

The key, Chen and his colleagues studying Arabidopsis plants found, is the increased expression of genes involved in photosynthesis and starch metabolism in hybrids and polyploids. These genes were expressed at high levels during the day, several-fold increases over their parents.
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"This connection was a bit of surprise, but it makes a lot of sense," says Chen.

With this knowledge, Chen says they can now develop genomic and biotechnological tools to find and make better hybrids and polyploids.

"We can think about screening parent plants for these genes and selecting the ones to make the best hybrids," says Chen.
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Chen and his colleagues study standard hybrid and allopolyploid Arabidopsis, cotton and corn.

Z. Jeffrey Chen (University of Texas, Austin)

Z. Jeffrey Chen The University of Texas at Austin