Recombination: an underappreciated factor in the evolution of plant genomes

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Abstract
This article argues that recombination has a far more important role in the evolution of plant genomes than is currently appreciated, and that genome-wide patterns of recombination might explain some intriguing differences between plant and animal genomes. Our knowledge of recombination rates and patterns in plants is far from being comprehensive. However, compelling evidence indicates a central role for recombination, through its influences on mutation and selection, in the evolution of plant genomes. Furthermore, recombination seems to be generally higher and more variable in plants than in animals, which could be one of the primary reasons for differences in genome lability between these two kingdoms. Much additional study of recombination in plants is needed to investigate these ideas further.