ABSTRACT

This chapter begins with an overview of plant genomes, and then discusses methods, applications, and opportunities for weed genome assembly. Assembly of a plant genome requires overcoming some significant challenges. The major challenge arises from the presence of the two non-nuclear genomes belonging to the chloroplast and the mitochondria. Genomic sequencing is deciphering the exact order of nucleotides in a segment of DNA. Molecular biologists, chemists, engineers, and computer scientists have collaborated to develop many sequencing technologies that are commonly referred to as platforms. The continued increase in the scale and accuracy of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, along with the continually decreasing cost, is enabling genomic and transcriptomic research in weeds to proceed at an ever-increasing pace. Genomics approaches have enabled the study of various herbicide resistance traits, including traits with complex genetics such as enhanced herbicide metabolism. The chapter finally discusses transcriptomics approaches in weed science.