Commentary - Recombination, and chromosomes, in a changing environment

Recombination is of great practical importance in breeding and the pattern of allele reassortment within populations is the central issue underlying the genetic basis of evolutionary change. But is more recombination better than less, or does that depend on circumstances? In this issue of New Phytologist, Escudero et al. (pp. 237-247) address this question directly, making use of the holocentric chromosomes of the Cyperaceae (sedges). Escudero et al have compared habitat preference and plant morphological traits with chromosome number in Carex to test the idea that environmental stability may permit high recombination rates.