Author:
Zeng Xingquan,Long Hai,Wang Zhuo,Zhao Shancen,Tang Yawei,Huang Zhiyong,Wang Yulin,Xu Qijun,Mao Likai,Deng Guangbing,Yao Xiaoming,Li Xiangfeng,Bai Lijun,Yuan Hongjun,Pan Zhifen,Liu Renjian,Chen Xin,WangMu QiMei,Chen Ming,Yu Lili,Liang Junjun,DunZhu DaWa,Zheng Yuan,Yu Shuiyang,LuoBu ZhaXi,Guang Xuanmin,Li Jiang,Deng Cao,Hu Wushu,Chen Chunhai,TaBa XiongNu,Gao Liyun,Lv Xiaodan,Abu Yuval Ben,Fang Xiaodong,Nevo Eviatar,Yu Maoqun,Wang Jun,Tashi Nyima
Abstract
The Tibetan hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum), also called “Qingke” in Chinese and “Ne” in Tibetan, is the staple food for Tibetans and an important livestock feed in the Tibetan Plateau. The diploid nature and adaptation to diverse environments of the highland give it unique resources for genetic research and crop improvement. Here we produced a 3.89-Gb draft assembly of Tibetan hulless barley with 36,151 predicted protein-coding genes. Comparative analyses revealed the divergence times and synteny between barley and other representative Poaceae genomes. The expansion of the gene family related to stress responses was found in Tibetan hulless barley. Resequencing of 10 barley accessions uncovered high levels of genetic variation in Tibetan wild barley and genetic divergence between Tibetan and non-Tibetan barley genomes. Selective sweep analyses demonstrate adaptive correlations of genes under selection with extensive environmental variables. Our results not only construct a genomic framework for crop improvement but also provide evolutionary insights of highland adaptation of Tibetan hulless barley.
Funder
the Tibet Autonomous Region Financial Special Fund
National Science and Technology Support Program
National Program on Key Basic Research Project
National Progr on Key Basic Resarch Project
Publisher
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences