ForageGrassBase: Molecular resource for the forage grass Festuca pratensis Huds

Abstract

BackgroundMeadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.) is one of the most important forage grasses in temperate regions. F. pratensis is a diploid (2n =14) outbreeding species that belongs to the genus Festuca. Together with Lolium, they are the most important genera of forage grasses in temperate regions. F. pratensis has good winter survival, with high quality dry matter yields and persistency, and is suitable both for frequent-cutting conservation regimes and for grazing. It is a significant component of species-rich permanent pastures in the temperate regions, ensuring high forage yield under harsh climatic conditions where other productive forage grass species are unable to grow. However, genomic resources for F. Pratensis is not available so far.ResultsThe draft genome sequences of two F. pratensis genotypes “HF7/2” and “B14/16” are reported in this study. Here, using the draft genome, functional annotation datasets of two F. pratensis cultivars, we have constructed the F. pratensis genome database http://foragegrass.org/, the first open-access platform to provide comprehensive genomic resources related to this forage grass species. The current version of this database provides the most up-to-date draft genome sequence along with structural and functional annotations for genes using Genome Browser (GBrowse). In addition, we have integrated comparative genomic tracks for F. pratensis genomes by mapping F.pratensis genome to the barley, rice, Brachypodium and maize genomes. We have integrated homologus search tool BLAST also for the users to analyze their data. Combined, GBrowse, BLAST and downloadble data gives an user friendly access to F. pratensis genomic resouces. All data in the database were manually curated.ConclusionTo our knowledge, ForageGrassBase is the first genome database dedicated to forage grasses. It provides valuable resources for a range of research fields related to F. pratensis and other forage crop species, as well as for plant research communities in general. The genome database can be accessed at http://foragegrass.org. In the near future, we will expand the ForageGrassBase by adding genomic tools for other forage grass species, as soon as their genomes become available.