Genomic insights into the evolution of Echinochloa species as weed and orphan crop

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. Echinochloa is an important genus in the grass family as many of them are either problematic weeds or domesticated millets. Here, the authors assemble three polyploidy genomes in this genus using the diploid-assisted scaffolding method DipHic and provide genomic insights into the dual roles of some species as weeds and orphan crops.

Automated summary

This study provides genomic insights into the dual roles of Echinochloa species as weeds and crops, revealing the complex evolution and constrained disease-related gene copy numbers in Echinochloa. The research also uncovers deep population differentiation, herbicide resistance mutations, and limited domestication of barnyard millets. These results offer essential resources for studying plant polyploidization, adaptation, precision weed control, and millet improvements.