A uniform gene and chromosome nomenclature system for oat (Avena spp.)

Authors: JELLEN, ERIC - Brigham Young University; WIGHT, CHARLENE - Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada; SPANNAGL, MANUEL - Technical University Of Munich; BLAKE, VICTORIA - Montana State University; CHONG, JAMES - Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada; HERRMANN, MATTHIAS - Julius Kuhn Institute; HOWARTH, CATHERINE - Aberystwyth University; HUANG, YUNG-FEN - National Taiwan University; JUQING, JIA - Shanxi Agriculture University; KATSIOTIS, ANDREAS - Cyprus University Of Technology; LANGDON, TIM - Aberystwyth University; LI, CHENGDAO - Murdoch University; PARK, ROBERT - University Of Sydney; TINKER, NICHOLAS - Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada; Sen, Taner

Submitted to: Crop and Pasture Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2023
Publication Date: 1/2/2024
Citation: Jellen, E.N., Wight, C.P., Spannagl, M., Blake, V.C., Chong, J., Herrmann, M., Howarth, C.N., Huang, Y., Juqing, J., Katsiotis, A., Langdon, T., Li, C., Park, R., Tinker, N.A., Sen, T.Z. 2024. A uniform gene and chromosome nomenclature system for oat (Avena spp.). Crop and Pasture Science. 75(1). Article CP23247. https://doi.org/10.1071/CP23247.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/CP23247

Interpretive Summary: We present a revised set of guidelines for gene, quantitative trait locus, and chromosome nomenclature in oat that have been agreed upon by the community. A framework for these rules has been posted on the GrainGenes database website (https://wheat.pw.usda.gov/GG3/oatnomenclature). The revised guidelines aim to provide a flexible system of structure and a common framework for naming genes, quantitative trait locus, and chromosomes in oat which may be extended to related species, which will ultimately help accelerate plant research and breeding.

Technical Abstract: A handful of high-quality oat (Avena sativa L. and relatives) reference genomes have been published, with the prospect of many additional whole-genome assemblies emerging in the near future. This has necessitated an effort by the International Oat Nomenclature Committee (IONC; all co-authors on this paper) to devise a universal system for naming oat genes; gene models; quantitative trait loci (QTL); genomes and subgenomes; and chromosomes. A framework for these rules has been posted on the GrainGenes database website (https://wheat.pw.usda.gov/GG3/oatnomenclature). The gene naming convention requires adoption of a numerical identifier for each genotype; we propose that these be assigned by contacting either the GrainGenes curators, the curator of the Oat Newsletter, or a member of the IONC (as listed at the GrainGenes link above). We encourage oat researchers to refer to these resources, policies, procedures, and conventions, adopting them as an international nomenclature standard.