The hexaploid species Echinochloa crus-galli is one of the most detrimental weeds in crop fields, especially in rice paddies. Its evolutionary history is similar to that of bread wheat, arising through polyploidization after hybridization between a tetraploid and a diploid species. In this study, we generated and analyzed high-quality genome sequences of diploid (E. haploclada), tetraploid (E. oryzicola), and hexaploid (E. crus-galli) Echinochloa species. Gene family analysis showed a significant loss of disease-resistance genes such as those encoding NB-ARC domain-containing proteins during Echinochloa polyploidization, contrary to their significant expansionduring wheat polyploidization, suggesting that natural selection might favor reduced investment in resistance in this weed to maximize its growth and reproduction. In contrast to the asymmetric patterns of genome evolution observed in wheat and other crops, no significant differences in selection pressure were detected between the subgenomes in E. oryzicola and E. crus-galli. In addition, distinctive differences in subgenome transcriptome dynamics during hexaploidization were observed between E. crus-galli and bread wheat. Collectively, our study documents genomic mechanisms underlying the adaptation of a major agricultural weed during polyploidization. The genomic and transcriptomic resources of three Echinochloa species and new insights into the polyploidization-driven adaptive evolution would be useful for future breeding cereal crops.
As one of the great survivors of the plant kingdom, barnyard grasses (Echinochloa spp.) are the most noxious and common weeds in paddy ecosystems. Meanwhile, at least two Echinochloa species have been domesticated and cultivated as millets. In order to better understand the genomic forces driving the evolution of Echinochloa species toward weed and crop characteristics, we assemble genomes of three Echinochloa species (allohexaploid E. crus-galli and E. colona, and allotetraploid E. oryzicola) and re-sequence 737 accessions of barnyard grasses and millets from 16 rice-producing countries. Phylogenomic and comparative genomic analyses reveal the complex and reticulate evolution in the speciation of Echinochloa polyploids and provide evidence of constrained disease-related gene copy numbers in Echinochloa. A population-level investigation uncovers deep population differentiation for local adaptation, multiple target-site herbicide resistance mutations of barnyard grasses, and limited domestication of barnyard millets. Our results provide genomic insights into the dual roles of Echinochloa species as weeds and crops as well as essential resources for studying plant polyploidization, adaptation, precision weed control and millet improvements.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.