Genome of ancient grass Streptochaeta spicata reveals early cereal evolution
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
An international team including Elizabeth Kellogg of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center sequenced the chromosome-level genome of Streptochaeta spicata, a tropical grass that diverged from cereal ancestors over 50 million years ago. The assembly, published in Nature Communications, reconstructs the genome of the common ancestor of all cereals and shows that an ancient whole-genome duplication shaped modern crops. The findings offer new tools for breeding wheat, maize, and rice for yield and climate resilience.
Key Facts
- The chromosome-level genome assembly of Streptochaeta spicata was published in Nature Communications.
- Streptochaeta spicata diverged from the common ancestor of cereals more than 50–60 million years ago.
- All modern cereals, including wheat, maize, and rice, carry the signature of an ancient whole-genome duplication.
- Elizabeth Kellogg, honorary member of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, participated in the study.
Genome Assembly
An international team sequenced the genome of Streptochaeta spicata at chromosome level. The plant is a tropical relative of cereals found in Central and South America. It occupies a basal position in the grass family tree, having diverged from the common lineage over 50–60 million years ago. The genome serves as a genetic snapshot for reconstructing the ancestor of all living grasses.
Ancient Polyploidy
Comparison with other grass genomes revealed evidence of an ancient whole-genome duplication. The duplication occurred tens of millions of years ago and left a mark on all major cereal crops. Polyploidy laid the foundation for the diversity that allowed grasses to become a dominant plant family.
Crop Breeding
Grasses include rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, barley, and sugarcane, which form the basis of the human diet. Understanding deep evolutionary history provides tools for studying traits such as grain structure and drought tolerance. Inclusion of Streptochaeta genome data in global databases will help breeders find useful genes for yield and climate resilience. Elizabeth Kellogg noted that grasses provide a significant portion of the world's food, but their earliest evolutionary stages were difficult to reconstruct.
1 source
Time · lag behind first