biostudies-literatureKhodaverdi MNational Institute of Food and AgricultureNational Science Foundation1175-1190https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10902897biostudies-literatureUnknown132(7)<h4>Background and aims</h4>Pooideae grasses contain some of the world's most important crop and forage species. Although much work has been conducted on understanding the genetic basis of trait diversification within a few annual Pooideae, comparative studies at the subfamily level are limited by a lack of perennial models outside 'core' Pooideae. We argue for development of the perennial non-core genus Melica as an additional model for Pooideae, and provide foundational data regarding the group's biogeography and history of character evolution.<h4>Methods</h4>Supplementing available ITS and ndhF sequence data, we built a preliminary Bayesian-based Melica phylogeny, and used it to understand how the genus has diversified in relation to geography, climate and trait variation surveyed from Annals of botanyMelica as an emerging model system for comparative studies in temperate Pooideae grasses.PMC10902897IOS2120732VT-H02712Khodaverdi MPreston JCShafer HRMullinger MDfalseMelica as an emerging model system for comparative studies in temperate Pooideae grasses.<h4>Background and aims</h4>Pooideae grasses contain some of the world's most important crop and forage species. Although much work has been conducted on understanding the genetic basis of trait diversification within a few annual Pooideae, comparative studies at the subfamily level are limited by a lack of perennial models outside 'core' Pooideae. We argue for development of the perennial non-core genus Melica as an additional model for Pooideae, and provide foundational data regarding the group's biogeography and history of character evolution.<h4>Methods</h4>Supplementing available ITS and ndhF sequence data, we built a preliminary Bayesian-based Melica phylogeny, and used it to understand how the genus has diversified in relation to geography, climate and trait variation surveyed from 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Dec2026-04-08T16:08:10.703Z2025-04-04T01:02:19.619ZS-EPMC109028973769676110.1093/aob/mcad136