The saltmarsh cordgrass Spartina anglica has novel genomic features that contribute to abiotic stress tolerance.

Spartina anglica exhibits novel genomic features, including whole-genome duplications and gene expansions, that enhance its abiotic stress tolerance in saltmarsh environments.

• Why it matters: Understanding how invasive species like S. anglica adapt to extreme abiotic stresses can inform ecological management and reveal mechanisms of plant resilience.
• What they did: The study used long-read sequencing and transcriptomic analysis of various tissues to identify at least two whole-genome duplications, gene expansions, and biochemical adaptations related to stress tolerance.
• The result: Findings show that S. anglica produces diverse osmolytes such as DMSP, with a retrotransposon-driven high expression of DMSP-amine oxidase, enabling it to survive severe abiotic stresses.