Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) as a model ornamental plant(<Feature Articles>New model plants; reference materials for post-genome era)

Abstract

New ornamental cultivars are commonly produced by hybridization between elite cultivars and are propagated vegetatively; therefore, the genetic background of most ornamentals is highly heterozygous, with polyploidy also observed in some species. This situation complicates detailed genetic analysis using crossing populations; consequently, the development of sophisticated breeding strategies and genomic research using the information in ornamentals has lagged behind those in other crops. However, the advent of next generation sequencing technology has changed this. Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) is one of the most popular ornamentals worldwide, along with chrysanthemum and rose. Carnation has various flower colors and flower patterns that attract consumers. Carnation has a relatively small, diploid genome, making it a suitable plant material to conduct genomic analysis compared with other ornamentals that have high ploidy levels or large genome sizes. To understand the genetic systems of carnation and to accelerate molecular breeding, we sequenced the whole genome of carnation for the first time in ornamentals. The generated information and material resources for the carnation genome should enhance both fundamental and applied studies of carnations and related plants. In this review, I will summarize the carnation genome sequencing project and provide a future prospectus for genomic study in ornamentals.