ArticlePlant communications2026
Phased-genome assemblies of saltgrass reveal structural dynamics and genomic basis for extreme salt tolerance and dioecy.
Article in Plant communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
The climate crisis poses a critical challenge to agriculture, with freshwater scarcity becoming a major constraint on crop production. Harnessing halophytic adaptations for growth in saline environments offers a promising path for neodomestication of salt-tolerant crops. Distichlis spp. (saltgrass)-a genus of dioecious, halophytic C4 grasses in the PACMAD clade-thrives in extreme saline conditions, making it a compelling system for studying salinity tolerance and adaptation. Here, we present high-quality phased genome assemblies of four Distichlis genets, revealing an allotetraploid genome (576-610 Mb) with two highly syntenic but degenerate subgenomes, each exhibiting over 30% gene loss across orthologous pairs. Comparative genomic analyses revealed a novel chromosome fusion event that distinguishes D. spicata (2n = 40) from D. stricta (2n = 38), highlighting a chromosomal rearrangement that differentiates the species. Population genomic analysis of 364 genets across 35 populations demonstrated strong geographic separation and confirmed D. stricta as a distinct species. Additionally, we identified a 7-Mb B chromosome in two genets, which displayed features common to B chromosomes in other species. Using k-mer analyses of sex-typed populations, we identified an 8-Mb sex-determining region in female genets that contains 24 candidate genes, confirming that Distichlis has a ZW-type sex determination system. Expression profiling of plants under extreme (seawater-level) salinity revealed key salt-tolerance genes that are also implicated in drought resilience, suggesting an overlapping genetic basis for these stress responses. These genomic resources establish a foundation for the neodomestication of saltgrass as a climate-resilient crop for saline agroecosystems and enhance our understanding of genome evolution in halophytic grasses.
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