Wageningen University,Deijenlaan 3,6703HA Wageningen,The NetherlandsMini-biographyRene Geurts is leading a research group focusing on the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis at the laboratory of molecular biology, Department of Plant Science, Wageningen University. He obtained his PhD in Molecular Biology from Wageningen University in 1998, focusing on genetic approaches to study rhizobial Nod factor-activated signalling. Currently, Rene Geurts is assistant professor at the same laboratory. As partner in GLIP he is responsible for the cytogenetic component in the ongoing sequencing project of the Medicago genome. Furthermore, he participates in an ERA-NET Plant Genomics project that aims to align the genomes of Medicago and red clover, in such that the Medicago genome sequence can be used as reference for clover genetics.
His basic research question is: ‘
What make legumes so special that they can have a symbiosis with Rhizobium?’. In other words: ‘
Which evolutionary events have shaped legumes in such that this symbiotic interaction became possible?’ To enable molecular studies on the Rhizobium symbiosis, Rene Geurts actively participates in the development of
Medicago truncatula as legume model species. Currently, three research topics are covered in his lab: (1) Structural and translational Medicago genomics, (2) evolution of Rhizobium-legume recognition and (3) maintenance and senescence of nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium organelles.
The Medicago genome can serve as reference for legume crops
Rene Geurts
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Plant Science, Wageningen University, Dreijenlaan 3, 6703HA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
rene.geurts@wur.nl
Temperate legume crops –like pea, faba bean, lentil, clover, lucerne, and chickpea– have in common that they contain rather large and/or complex genomes. This characteristic severely hampers genomic approaches. To enable genomic studies in these species,
Medicago truncatula (Medicago) has been adopted as model species. Medicago has a relatively small genome (~560 Mbps) with a simple organisation. Furthermore, it has all the essential characteristics of a model plant, e.g. self-fertile, a relative short generation time and availability of transformation protocols. To facilitate genome studies, the gene space of Medicago is currently subject to sequencing. Phylogenetically, Medicago belongs to the same tribe as lucerne and clover species: the Trifolieae. The Trifolieae tribe is closely related to the tribes Fabeae (harbouring pea, lentil and faba bean) and Cicereae (harbouring chickpea). Based on this close phylogenetic relationship, Medicago and these temperate legume crops are expected to have a high level of synteny, that is a high level of conservation in the order of their genes. It will be presented how the Medicago genome sequence can be used as reference for genetic and genomic studies in legume crops.
