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Group:

Eudicot

Estimated genome size:

0.3 meters in height.

Size:

0.3 meters in height.

Distribution:

Found in grassland habitats across Southern Africa.

PromethION Sequencing Report:

Output:

122.04 Gigabases

Approximate N50:

9.24 kilobases

Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:

Genome Length:

2.75 Gigabases

BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):

99.6% [S: 60.8%, D: 38.8%]

Importance:

Some populations of this species in the Barberton region of South Africa have evolved the ability to hyperaccumulate nickel, making this species ideal for a comparative genomics approach to understand the evolution of this extreme phenotype.

Sample Contributor contact details:

Prof. Robert Ingle
University of Cape Town

Group:

Monocot

Estimated genome size:

Size:

Up to 1 m in height

Distribution:

Wild rye grows naturally in moist meadows and streambanks in the Roggeveld - an area on the southern African escarpment margin between Sutherland and Middelpos in the Northern Cape.

PromethION Sequencing Report:

Output:

151.81 Gigabases

Approximate N50:

6.81 kilobases

Assembly N50:

779.54 kilobases

Contig number:

24 195

Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:

Assembler used:

Hifiasm

Genome Length:

6.19 Gigabases

BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):

98.6% [S: 92.7%, D: 5.9%]

BUSCO database:

viridiplantae

Secale africanum

African rye

Species Card Details

Importance:

This is the only rye species from southern Africa. It is palatable and has been used for grazing. It is not known whether it was used as a cereal by the indigenous peoples in the past (pza.sanbi.org/secale africanum).

Sample Contributor contact details:

Ernst van Jaarsveld
Babylonstoren Farms

Date Published:

2025-08-27

Photo credit:

© E. van Jaarsveld

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