Medicago truncatula on the Move!

Plant biology is moving rapidly. With the recent completion of the sequence of the Arabidopsis genome (The Arabidopsis Genome Initiative, 2000), researchers have turned their attention to the genomes of other crop plants (Adam, 2000). Many agronomically important crop plants are legumes, such as soybean, pea, and alfalfa. However, the size and complexity of these genomes makes them unwieldy and has slowed progress on the genetic characterization of these crops. Medicago truncatula recently emerged as a model plant for legume genetics and genomics (Cook, 1999). The small diploid genome, autogamous genetics, and ease of transformation make this close relative of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) a good model system. The recent development of genetic and genomic tools for M. truncatula research has propelled M. truncatula into the forefront of legume research as an ideal legume model. Advances in M. truncatula genomics were the subject of a recent workshop preceding the 9th Annual Plant and Animal Genome Meeting in San Diego, California, on January 11 and 12.