synteny covering a major part of the total gen-
omes of these species (Cannon et al. 2006 ). In
addition, we used the legume anchor approach to
look for synteny to the distantly related legume
groundnut (Arachis hypogeae). In this case, we
were also able to show synteny betweenArachis
species, LotusandM. truncatula, but less pro-
nounced compared to beans as expected (Bertioli
et al. 2009 ).
It is therefore clear that synteny can be used as
an analytical tool in both scientific and practical
aspects of legume research. The substantial
genome information fromLotus,Medicagoand
soybean can be used to help with genetic map-
ping and gene isolation in other legumes.
Recently, a comparative mapping approach was
used for a complex disease resistance gene locus
in bean (Perrine et al. 2008 ) and the virus resis-
tance gene Rsv4 in soybean (Hwang et al. 2009 ).
In addition, a number of genes for basic traits, in
addition to symbiotic genes, will be easier to
isolate from model legumes, and afterwards the
corresponding gene can be identified and fol-
lowed in breeding programmes in crop legumes.
The conserved marker order (synteny) will be
very high to the otherLotusspecies. We expect
that markers that are linked inL. japonicuswill
also be linked in most of the otherLotusspecies.
Acknowledgments This work was supported by Danish
National Research Foundation, by the European Union
(Lotassa FP6-517617) and by the Kazusa DNA Research
Institute Foundation.
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