谷子（Eleusine coracana）染色体水平的基因组组装提供了抗旱性的见解，这一成果由中国农业科学院周美亮研究组经过不懈努力而取得。2025年8月5日，国际知名学术期刊《遗传学报》发表了这一成果。

研究人员报道了异源四倍体栽培品种C142的高质量基因组组装，揭示了其两个亚基因组（subA和subB）之间广泛的结构重排，这与不对称基因表达和亚基因组优势倾向于subA相关。大约680万年前，SubB与其假定的祖先E.indica分化，两次全基因组复制事件塑造了当前的基因组结构，促进了基因冗余和适应潜力。

值得注意的是，与应激相关的基因家族的扩展，如醛酮还原酶，表明在氧化应激反应和干旱适应中起作用。利用全基因组关联研究（GWAS），研究组确定了几个与关键农艺性状相关的候选基因。其中，编码单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶的EcMDHAR基因在提高抗旱性中起关键作用。不同的EcMDHAR单倍型表现出不同的表达谱，支持其在干旱适应中的功能相关性。这种基因组抗性不仅促进了他们对谷子多倍体基因组进化的认识，而且为基因组辅助改良谷子抗旱性和营养品质提供了基础。

据了解，谷子（Elethemine coracana Gaertn.)是一种营养丰富、抗旱能力强的C4谷物，具有超长的粮食储存寿命（长达50年）。

附：英文原文

Title: Chromosome-level genome assembly of finger millet (Eleusine coracana) provides insights into drought resistance

Author: Chaonan Guan c d , Rui Tang a, Meiliang Zhou b c d

Issue&Volume: 2025/08/05

Abstract: Finger millet (Eleusine coracana Gaertn.), a nutritionally rich and drought-resilient C4 cereal, possesses exceptional grain storage longevity (up to 50 years). Here, we report a high-quality genome assembly of the allotetraploid cultivar C142, revealing extensive structural rearrangements between its two subgenomes (subA and subB), which are associated with asymmetric gene expression and subgenome dominance favoring subA. SubB diverged from its presumed progenitor E. indica approximately 6.8 million years ago, and two whole-genome duplication events shaped the current genome architecture, contributing to gene redundancy and adaptive potential. Notably, expansion of stress-related gene families, such as aldo-keto reductases, suggests a role in oxidative stress response and drought adaptation. Using genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we identify several candidate genes associated with key agronomic traits. Among them, EcMDHAR, encoding monodehydroascorbate reductase, plays a critical role in enhancing drought tolerance. Different EcMDHAR haplotypes exhibit distinct expression profiles, supporting their functional relevance in drought adaptation. This genomic resource not only advances our understanding of polyploid genome evolution in millets but also provides a foundation for genome-assisted improvement of drought resistance and nutritional quality in finger millet.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2025.07.012

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1673852725002097