Understanding forage grass genomes beyond single nucleotide variation - an example on self-incompatibility

The genera Lolium and Festuca comprise the most important forage and turf grass species of temperate regions worldwide. Despite tremendous advancements in DNA sequencing technologies and genome assembly methods, genome sequences of highest quality in terms of completeness, correctness and contiguity are yet to be established for the Lolium-Festuca species complex. The International Lolium-Festuca Pangenome Consortium (ILFPC) * has set out to fill this gap and aims at establishing multiple high-quality genome sequences to advance forage and turf grass research and breeding. Here we report about first results of the joint efforts within ILFPC and, more importantly, how the established genomic resources can help answering biological questions. Using self-incompatibility (SI) as an example, we present how whole genome assemblies can be used to resolve the gene content and order at one SI locus, previously identified by fine-mapping. The multiple genomes obtained through ILFPC also enabled us to compare the gene constitution of different genotypes within and across species and link this information to SI functionality. The availability of multiple high-quality genome assemblies constitutes a milestone for genetic studies, functional biology and genomics-assisted breeding. Moreover, comparing genomes and moving towards pangenomics opens new opportunities to describe structural genome variation and unlock genetic diversity in the Lolium-Festuca species complex.

* including Jeanne Jacobs, AgResearch Ltd 

Studer B, M Rohner, C Manzanares and the International Lolium-Festuca Pangenome Consortium, 2021. Understanding forage grass genomes beyond single nucleotide variation – an example on self-incompatibility. In: Exploiting genetic diversity of forages to fulfil their economic and environmental roles. Proceedings of the 34th Meeting of the EUCARPIA Fodder Crops and Amenity Grasses Section in cooperation with the EUCARPIA Festulolium Working Group, Freising September, 2021. Eds. S. Hartmann, S. Bachmann-Pfabe, S. Byrne, U. Feuerstein, B. Julier, R. Kölliker, D. Kopecky, I. Roldan-Ruiz, T. Ruttink, J.-P. Sampoux, B. Studer, T. Vleugels, pp. 46-49.