First full zoysia grass genetic blueprint opens doors for drought-tolerant turf

A groundbreaking genomic resource from Texas A&M AgriLife Research has unveiled the complete genetic blueprint of zoysia grass, a resilient turfgrass commonly used in lawns, sports fields, and urban landscapes across the southern and transitional U.S. regions. This achievement, led by Murukarthick Jayakodi, Ph.D., opens the door to faster and more precise breeding techniques for developing drought-tolerant and heat-resistant zoysia grass cultivars.

The study, published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal, identifies a key chromosomal difference within a single genome of the species, which was previously challenging to identify due to zoysia grass's complex breeding patterns and extensive chromosomal variation. This breakthrough facilitates the development of molecular breeding tools, allowing researchers to pinpoint the genes responsible for desirable traits such as stress tolerance and accelerating the creation of improved zoysia grass varieties.

The research team, comprising Ambika Chandra, Preethi Purushotham, and Sae Hyun Lee, utilized advanced long-read sequencing and genome assembly technologies to overcome previous limitations and construct a chromosome-resolved, near-gap-free haplotypically-resolved genome assembly. This resource not only enables marker development for genomic-assisted selection but also paves the way for predictive models of turf performance, particularly in response to water stress—critical for the industry's quest to develop varieties that maintain green coloration under low water conditions.