The genus Vigna Savi (Leguminosae Juss.) comprises approximately 150 species, classified into five subgenera, most of which exhibit a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 22. However, the wild species Vigna lasiocarpa (Benth) Verdc. (V. subg. Lasiospron) is notable for its dysploid chromosome number of 2n = 20. This study aimed to elucidate the chromosomal events involved in the karyotype evolution of V. lasiocarpa (Vla). We used oligopainting probes from chromosomes 1, 2, 3, and 5 of Phaseolus vulgaris L. and two barcode probes from the genome of V. unguiculata (L.) Walp. Additionally, bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) from V. unguiculata and P. vulgaris, along with a telomeric probe from Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh., were hybridized to V. lasiocarpa metaphase chromosomes to characterize Vla3, Vla7/5, and Vla9. Our findings revealed conserved oligo-FISH patterns on chromosomes 2, 6, 8, 10, and 11 between V. unguiculata and V. lasiocarpa. Paracentric and pericentric inversions were identified for Vla3 and Vla9, respectively. Our integrative approach revealed that the dysploid chromosome originated from an “end-to-end fusion” of homoeologous chromosomes 5 and 7. This is the first report on the chromosomal mechanisms underlying descending dysploidy in Vigna, providing new insights into the evolutionary dynamics of the genus.

Transposable elements (TEs), which were once relegated to the status of genomic parasites, are today accepted as important agents of plant genome evolution and adaptation. This review integrates evidence pointing to their dual function as drivers of genetic diversity and instability, with a focus on their contribution to phenotypic innovation, stress tolerance, and crop trait control. TEs create structural and regulatory diversity by insertional mutagenesis, cis ‐regulatory sequence donation, and epigenetic interactions, facilitating fast adaptation to environmental stress. Advances in omics technologies have unraveled TE dynamics, showing insertion bias toward genic and regulatory regions and stress‐responsive activation patterns. The influence of the mobilome on crop improvement is emphasized by TE‐derived molecular markers, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats‐mediated TE regulation, and epigenome editing that minimizes risks of genome instability while tapping TE‐driven diversity. Rice ( Oryza sativa L.) mPing and maize ( Zea mays L.) Hopscotch , for instance, demonstrate TE potential in trait enhancement and domestication. Moreover, multi‐omics integration has defined TEs’ input into stress response and genome plasticity, offering new targets for precision breeding. Challenges remain in modeling TE behavior and weighing adaptive potential against harmful effects, requiring sophisticated computational models and synthetic biology strategies. Interdisciplinary approaches integrating machine learning and synthetic TE design should be prioritized in future research to maximize TE‐mediated crop resilience. With the integration of TE biology and cutting‐edge biotechnologies, global food security issues, fueled by climate change, can be mitigated by the scientific community. This overview situates TEs not merely as genomic leftovers but as essential next‐generation crop requirements, necessitating their strategic location in sustainable agro‐innovation.

Mimosa L. comprises approximately 620 species of socioeconomic and environmental importance, with about half occurring in the Brazilian Cerrado. Despite this diversity, cytogenetic studies in the genus remain limited, with most restricted to chromosome counts. We investigated 11 populations of seven Mimosa species, focusing on the heterochromatin distribution (CMA ⁺ bands), and nuclear DNA content. Polysomaty was observed in root meristem cells of six species, absent only in M. verrucosa , in which only diploid cells were detected. Variation in the number, position, and intensity of CMA ⁺ bands was detected both within and among populations. The number of CMA ⁺ bands ranged from four in M. caesalpiniifolia (diploid cells) to 104 in M. candollei (octaploid cells), with no apparent phylogenetic pattern. Polysomatic cells generally showed a proportional increase in CMA ⁺ bands with ploidy level. Nuclear DNA content varied from 1C = 0.64 pg ( M. sensitiva ) to 1C = 1.55 pg ( M. arenosa ), with no correlation ( r = 0.1417) between ploidy and DNA content. Our results, together with previous reports, indicate that polysomaty is a frequent genomic feature in Mimosa , likely associated with environmental adaptation, growth and development. This study represents the first intra- and interpopulation assessment of heterochromatin variation and nuclear DNA content across multiple Mimosa species, providing novel insights into heterochromatin dynamics and genome organization in this diverse cytogenetically understudied legume genus. This article aligns with SDG 15 (Life on Land) of the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development.