Key message Genome analysis of 27 oat species identifies ancestral groups, delineates the D genome, and identifies ancestral origin of 21 mapped chromosomes in hexaploid oat. AbstractWe investigated genomic relationships among 27 species of the genus Avena using high-density genetic markers revealed by genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). Two methods of GBS analysis were used: one based on tag-level haplotypes that were previously mapped in cultivated hexaploid oat (A. sativa), and one intended to sample and enumerate tag-level haplotypes originating from all species under investigation. Qualitatively, both methods gave similar predictions regarding the clustering of species and shared ancestral genomes. Furthermore, results were consistent with previous phylogenies of the genus obtained with conventional approaches, supporting the robustness of whole genome GBS analysis. Evidence is presented to justify the final and definitive classification of the tetraploids A. insularis, A. maroccana (=A. magna), and A. murphyi as containing D-plus-C genomes, and not A-plus-C genomes, as is most often specified in past literature. Through electronic painting of the 21 chromosome representations in the hexaploid oat consensus map, we show how the relative frequency of matches between mapped hexaploid-derived haplotypes and AC (DC)-genome tetraploids vs. A- and C-genome diploids can accurately reveal the genome origin of all hexaploid chromosomes, including the approximate positions of inter-genome translocations. Evidence is provided that supports the continued classification of a diverged B genome in AB tetraploids, and it is confirmed that no extant A-genome diploids, including A. canariensis, are similar enough to the D genome of tetraploid and hexaploid oat to warrant consideration as a D-genome diploid.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00122-016-2762-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Common oat (Avena sativa) is an important cereal crop serving as a valuable source of forage and human food. Although reference genomes of many important crops have been generated, such work in oat has lagged behind, primarily owing to its large, repeat-rich polyploid genome. Here, using Oxford Nanopore ultralong sequencing and Hi-C technologies, we have generated a reference-quality genome assembly of hulless common oat, comprising 21 pseudomolecules with a total length of 10.76 Gb and contig N50 of 75.27 Mb. We also produced genome assemblies for diploid and tetraploid Avena ancestors, which enabled the identification of oat subgenomes and provided insights into oat chromosomal evolution. The origin of hexaploid oat is inferred from whole-genome sequencing, chloroplast genomes and transcriptome assemblies of different Avena species. These findings and the high-quality reference genomes presented here will facilitate the full use of crop genetic resources to accelerate oat improvement.

Abstract:Genome size is an indicator of evolutionary distance and a metric for genome characterization. Here, we report accurate estimates of genome size in 99 accessions from 26 species of Avena. We demonstrate that the average genome size of C genome diploid species (2C = 10.26 pg) is 15% larger than that of A genome species (2C = 8.95 pg), and that this difference likely accounts for a progression of size among tetraploid species, where AB < AC < CC (average 2C = 16.76, 18.60, and 21.78 pg, respectively). All accessions from three hexaploid species with the ACD genome configuration had similar genome sizes (average 2C = 25.74 pg). Genome size was mostly consistent within species and in general agreement with current information about evolutionary distance among species. Results also suggest that most of the polyploid species in Avena have experienced genome downsizing in relation to their diploid progenitors. Genome size measurements could provide additional quality control for species identification in germplasm collections, especially in cases where diploid and polyploid species have similar morphology.Key words: oat, flow cytometry, nucleus, polyploidy.Résumé : La taille du génome est un indicateur de la distance évolutive et constitue un paramètre pour la caractéri-sation des génomes. Ici, les auteurs rapportent des estimés précis de la taille du génome chez 99 accessions appartenant à 26 espèces du genre Avena. Les auteurs montrent que la taille moyenne du génome chez les espèces diploïdes ayant un génome C (2C = 10,26 pg) est 15 % supérieure à celui des espèces ayant un génome A (2C = 8,95 pg), et que cette différence explique vraisemblablement la progression dans la taille des génomes parmi les espèces tétraploïdes, où AB < AC < CC (en moyenne, 2C = 16,76, 18,60 et 21,78 pg, respectivement). Toutes les accessions des trois espèces hexaploïdes ayant une composition génomique ACD présentaient des tailles de génome comparables (en moyenne, 2C = 25,74 pg). La taille du génome était généralement stable au sein d'une espèce, et conforme aux connaissances actuelles en ce qui a trait aux distances évolutives entre elles. Les résultats suggèrent également que la plupart des espèces polyploïdes du genre Avena ont connu une réduction de la taille du génome par rapport aux espèces diploïdes ancestrales. Les mesures de la taille du génome pourraient fournir une source additionnelle de contrôle de qualité lors de l'identification des espèces au sein de collections de ressources génétiques, particulièrement dans les cas où des espèces diploïdes et polyploïdes présentent une morphologie semblable. [Traduit par la Rédaction] Mots-clés : avoine, cytométrie en flux, noyau, polyploïdie.

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