Comparative Relationship and Genome Evolution in St. Augustinegrass and Other Grasses.

St. Augustinegrass belongs to the family Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae with diverse ploidy levels. However, the genetic background and evolution of the genus have not been reported. The newly developed high-density genetic map of St. Augustinegrass enables breeders to clarify the genetic relationship between St. Augustinegrass and other grasses. Comparative genomic analysis was carried out among St. Augustinegrass, foxtail millet, sorghum and zoysiagrass genomes. Widespread synteny and colinearity of genetic loci were found between the genomes of these species. In addition, several chromosomal rearrangements, which differentiated St. Augustinegrass from other grasses, were identified through comparative analysis. This study could fill in the gaps in the evolutionary history of grasses.