Evaluation of genetic resources belonging to rice and root crops in Oceania

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Asian Oryza rufipogon is a progenitor of cultivated rice, O. sativa. Distribution of the wild type is known to spread from Asia to Australia. On the other hand, Australian endemic species has been known as annual O. meridionalis. However, in this project, we define that Asian like perennial, meridionalis like perennial, and conventional annual species. The former two species are distinct from not only Asian species but also Australian species. All passport data are accompanied with GPS, ecological data, and molecular data, which enable researchers to visit repeatedly. Using whole genome analysis, we have identified two unique plastid genomes. Perennial and annual populations shared both plastid genomes. However, genetically, they have been differentiated and not exchanged genetic materials with each other. Hybrid analysis revealed that Australian perennial sharing higher similarity with O. meridionalis for nuclear and plastid genomes could not generate higher fertility with any other species. Probably the perennial population belongs to a new species. They are regarded to be valuable resources for rice breeding.