Our reference plants are sugarcane and banana, two polyploid complexes, which we study taking a comparative genetics approach, making use of the new possibilities of mass sequencing and the public data available on rice and sorghum for the comparative genetics approach, along with specific work in molecular diversity, molecular cytogenetics, detailed genetic mapping and localization of QTLs of agronomic interest.

Our interpretations are placed within an evolutionary perspective. Different scales are considered: the whole genome, chromosomes (translocations and other rearrangements), particular regions (deletions, duplications, etc.) and particular genes involved in various functions potentially subjected to selection.

The wealth of comparisons undertaken by the team is due to the fact that it covers varied levels of differentiation between genomes making up a polyploid species (sugarcane, banana), between close genera (sugarcane/sorghum) or more distant genera (rice/other species) and between monocot families.

The evolution of genic structures involved in various functions subjected to selection is a particular challenge, as it determines the diversity and adaptive variability within each species.