16 ERA-CAPs: Meiotic recombination in plants: controlling the transition of DNA double-strand breaks to genetic crossovers (MEIOREC).

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Genetic variation generated through the process of homologous recombination (HR) during meiosis underpins plant breeding and efforts to deliver the rapid improvements in crops that will be required to ensure Food Security into the foreseeable future. HR is initiated by the programmed formation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) by the SPO11 complex. DSBs are processed by components of the HR pathway where they are repaired as genetic crossovers (COs), which recombine the homologous parental chromosomes, or non-crossovers (NCOs), where only short stretches of DNA are exchanged. In plants most DSBs (90%+) are repaired as NCOs. This limits the genetic variation that is generated in each meiotic division. Moreover, the distribution of COs, notably in cereal crops, is localized to particular chromosomal regions. The extensive work and collaborative efforts of the MEIOREC investigators have led to significant progress in understanding the basis of these limitations and have made headway in addressing them1. Nevertheless, a full understanding of how the transition of a DSB at a particular genomic locus to yield a CO is controlled and how this can be optimized remains a major challenge. We believe that the combined expertise of MEIOREC consortium provides a real opportunity to make substantial progress in addressing this important problem.