Aegilops

Aegilops is a genus of flowering plants in the grass family Poaceae, within the tribe Triticeae. Commonly known as goatgrasses, they are closely related to wheat (Triticum) and comprise a number of species distributed across temperate regions of Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa, with some species that have become weedy in North America. The plants are mostly annual or perennial grasses that form tufts or short rhizomes and bear spikelets typical of the Triticeae.

Genomes and ploidy within Aegilops are diverse. Many species are diploid, while others are polyploid, reflecting extensive hybridization events in the evolution of the tribe. Aegilops tauschii, a diploid species, is best known for contributing the D genome to hexaploid bread wheat (Triticum aestivum). The B genome of wheat is associated with species such as Aegilops speltoides or close relatives. By contrast, the A genome donor to bread wheat is Triticum urartu, not an Aegilops species, illustrating the complex genetic origins of cultivated wheat.

Aegilops holds considerable significance as a genetic resource for wheat improvement. Wild and feral species in the genus possess resistance to diseases and tolerance to various abiotic stresses, as well as traits affecting grain quality. They are often used in wheat-breeding programs to transfer beneficial genes, though some species can behave as weeds in cropland and may hybridize with cultivated wheat, influencing crop management and gene flow.

Notable species include Aegilops tauschii, Aegilops speltoides, Aegilops cylindrica (jointed goatgrass), Aegilops longissima, and Aegilops caudata, among others.