Early allopolyploid evolution in the post-Neolithic <i>Brassica napus</i> oilseed genome

TLDR

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus) arose ~7500 years ago via hybridization and chromosome doubling, producing a 72× genome with high gene content. The study examined the B. napus genome to assess the consequences of its recent duplication. The An and Cn subgenomes engage in subtle structural, functional, and epigenetic cross‑talk, with abundant homeologous exchanges.

Abstract

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) was formed ~7500 years ago by hybridization between B. rapa and B. oleracea, followed by chromosome doubling, a process known as allopolyploidy. Together with more ancient polyploidizations, this conferred an aggregate 72× genome multiplication since the origin of angiosperms and high gene content. We examined the B. napus genome and the consequences of its recent duplication. The constituent An and Cn subgenomes are engaged in subtle structural, functional, and epigenetic cross-talk, with abundant homeologous exchanges. Incipient gene loss and expression divergence have begun. Selection in B. napus oilseed types has accelerated the loss of glucosinolate genes, while preserving expansion of oil biosynthesis genes. These processes provide insights into allopolyploid evolution and its relationship with crop domestication and improvement.