goatgrass

Aegilops speltoides Tausch

Aegilops speltoides, known as goatgrass, is a species in the Poaceae family native to Southeastern Europe and Western Asia. It is used for animal feed and cultivated in beds. The plant is a significant natural source of disease resistance in wheat but is susceptible to barley mild mosaic bymovirus.

Description

Aegilops speltoides is a grass species in the Poaceae family, commonly referred to as goatgrass. It is native to regions including France, Bulgaria, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Turkey, and others in Southeastern Europe and Western Asia. This plant is cultivated and used primarily as animal feed. It plays a key role in wheat breeding due to its natural resistance to diseases. However, it is known to be susceptible to the barley mild mosaic bymovirus. First described in 1837 by Tausch, Aegilops speltoides is part of the Aegilops genus and is distributed across various countries globally.