The draft genome assembly and annotation of allotetraploid Festuca glaucescens.

BACKGROUND: We present the first long-read genome assembly and annotation for Festuca glaucescens, a member of a genus characterized by polyploidy, large genome sizes, and a high content of repetitive sequences. Fescues are important forage and turf grasses in temperate regions, valued for their resilience to abiotic stress. Though, the allotetraploid F. glaucescens is particularly notable for its drought tolerance, yet its genomic architecture has remained largely unexplored. RESULTS: The haploid assembly spans 5.52 Gb, with > 98% gene space completeness as assessed by BUSCO. Repetitive elements comprise ~ 77% of the genome, dominated by Gypsy and Copia LTR retrotransposons. We predicted 72,385 protein-coding genes, the majority of which are supported by transcriptomic and homology-based evidence. While some contig-level fragmentation persists, the assembly successfully captures the gene-rich, repeat-dense landscape of this complex polyploid genome. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first annotated reference genome for a Festuca species, offering a foundational resource for functional genomics, comparative studies, and forage grass improvement.