Arid Zone Research ›› 2025, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (10): 1939-1948.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2025.10.16

• Agricultural Ecology • Previous Articles    

Development and present situation of classification of Triticeae Dumort. in Xinjiang

DENG Chaohong1(), YE Qiang2, MENG Yan3, CUI Dafang1,2, ZHAGN Jinbo4()   

  1. 1. Institute of Crop Sciences, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, Xinjiang, China
    2. College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, China
    3. College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830091, Xinjiang, China
    4. Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2025-03-13 Revised:2025-05-06 Online:2025-10-15 Published:2025-10-22
  • Contact: ZHAGN Jinbo E-mail:symans@foxmail.com;jinbozhang@ms.xjb.ac.cn

Abstract:

With its unique natural geography and ecological environment, Xinjiang boasts a rich diversity of wild plant resources. Among these, the Triticeae plants, as the wild relatives of cereal crops, are recognized domestically and internationally as important genetic resources for improving the stress resistance, disease and pest resistance, and grain quality of existing wheat and barley cultivars. Following the introduction of the angiosperm classification system APG IV in 2016, the launch of the third national survey and collection of crop germplasm resources, and the initiation of the third Xinjiang Comprehensive Scientific Expedition Project in 2021, this study conducted further taxonomic verification and elucidated the delimitation of genera and species classification of Triticeae plants in Xinjiang on the basis of relevant literature review, examination of Triticeae plant specimens, and field research. The Triticeae plants in Xinjiang are classified into 11 genera, comprising a total of 108 species (including 10 cultivated species): Eremopyrum (4 species), Agropyron (5 species, including one cultivated species), Aegilops (1 species), Triticum (7 species, including six cultivated species), Secale (3 species, including two cultivated species and one agricultural weed), Elytrigia (6 species), Elymus (57 species), Pseudoroegneria (1 species), Psathyrostachys (3 species), Hordeum (6 species, including one cultivated species), and Leymus (15 species). Given the shared morphological characteristics among Elymus, Roegneria, and Kengyilia as well as molecular phylogenetic studies based on DNA analysis, this study supports the broad concept of Elymus L. sensu lato proposed by Á. Löve. Furthermore, in this study, eight species of Kengyilia originally documented as Xinjiang-type specimens are reclassified and renamed under Elymus L. sensu lato. The study provides a scientific basis and theoretical reference for the follow-up research and resource protection of wild wheat plants in Xinjiang.

Key words: Triticeae, germplasm resources, textual research, taxonomic revision, Xinjiang