In this project, we generated high-quality genome with PacBio sequencing technology for the species, Pharus latifolius, from the grass family (Poaceae). This species belongs to the subfamily Pharoideae mainly distributed in the tropical forest. There are a total of 12 subfamilies in the Poaceae. The cereal crops such as rice, wheat, barely, maize, and sorghum are all from the core grass lineages BOP and PACMAD with a total of nine subfamilies. The early-diverging grasses include three subfamilies, Anomochlooideae, Pharoideae, and Puelioideae, and these species are very special and important for understanding the origin and evolution of Poaceae. For example, the true grass spikelet firstly evolved in the Pharoideae subfamily.
The assembled genome sequences are 1,002.88 Mb with 12 chromosomes. The genome has ~790 Mb repeat sequences and encodes 32,007 protein-coding genes. The genome has a well-conserved synteny with other grass genomes such as rice. This genome will serve as an important resource for comparative analyses of grass and other plant genomes.
