SafePlants

Aegilops tauschii (Tausch's Goatgrass)

Aegilops tauschii, commonly known as Tausch's goatgrass, is an annual grass that can pose challenges in agricultural settings.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Aegilops tauschii Coss.
• Common Names: Tausch's goatgrass, Rough-spike hard grass, Jointed goatgrass, Jointgrass
• Family: Poaceae (Grass Family)
• Tribe: Triticeae (includes wheat and some other cereals)
• Synonyms:
  • Aegilops squarrosa
  • Triticum aegilops P. Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult.
  • Triticum tauschii (Coss.) Schmalh.
  • Aegilops squarrosa var. anathera Eig.

Distribution and Habitat

• Tausch's goatgrass is found worldwide and is considered a serious weed.
• It is particularly troublesome in winter wheat producing areas, such as the Yellow River region.
• It has been found in locations such as Arizona and New York in the United States.

Ecological Role

• Aegilops tauschii is often described as an invasive alien species.
• It infests wheat fields, outcompeting wheat plants and reducing crop yields.
• Its seeds can mix with wheat seeds, complicating harvesting and processing.

Morphological Characteristics

• It is an annual caespitose herb (growing in tufts or clumps).
• Its morphology and biological characteristics are very similar to wheat.

Genetic Information

• Aegilops tauschii is the progenitor of the D-genome of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum), playing a key role in wheat evolution.
• The whole genome of Aegilops tauschii has been sequenced.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• It can be a host to pollen allergens.
• It is a weed in wheat fields.

Further Information

• Information can be found at http://plants.ensembl.org/Aegilops_tauschii.