Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs Research Articles

The first high-quality genome assembly and annotation of Lantana camara, an important ornamental plant and a major invasive species

This study presents the first annotated, haplotype-resolved, chromosome-scale genome of Lantana camara, a flowering shrub native to Central America and known for its dual role as an ornamental plant and an invasive species. Despite its widespread cultivation and ecological impact, the lack of a high-quality genome has hindered the investigation of traits of both ornamental and invasive. This research bridges the gap in genomic resources for L. camara, which is crucial for both ornamental breeding programs and invasive species management. Whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing were utilized to elucidate the genetic complexity of a diploid L. camara breeding line UF-T48. The genome was assembled de novo using HiFi and Hi-C reads, resulting in two phased genome assemblies with high Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) scores of 97.7%, indicating their quality. All 22 chromosomes were assembled with pseudochromosomes averaging 117 Mb. The assemblies revealed 29 telomeres and an extensive presence of repetitive sequences, primarily long terminal repeat transposable elements. The genome annotation identified 83,775 protein-coding genes, with 83% functionally annotated. In particular, the study mapped 42 anthocyanin and carotenoid candidate gene clusters and 12 herbicide target genes to the assembly, identifying 38 genes spread across the genome that are integral to flower color development and 53 genes for herbicide targeting in L. camara. This comprehensive genomic study not only enhances the understanding of L. camara’s genetic makeup but also sets a precedent for genomic research in the Verbenaceae family, offering a foundation for future studies in plant genetics, conservation, and breeding.

A chromosome-level genome assembly of an avivorous bat species (Nyctalus aviator)

Currently, three carnivorous bat species, namely Ia io, Nyctalus lasiopterus, and Nyctalus aviator, are known to actively prey on seasonal migratory birds (hereinafter referred to as “avivorous bats”). However, the absence of reference genomes impedes a thorough comprehension of the molecular adaptations of avivorous bat species. Herein, we present the high-quality chromosome-scale reference genome of N. aviator based on PacBio subreads, DNBSEQ short-reads and Hi-C sequencing data. The genome assembly size of N. aviator is 1.77 Gb, with a scaffold N50 of 102 Mb, of which 99.8% assembly was anchored into 21 pseudo-chromosomes. After masking 635.1 Mb repetitive sequences, a total of 19,412 protein-coding genes were identified, of which 99.3% were functionally annotated. The genome assembly and gene prediction reached 96.1% and 96.1% completeness of Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO), respectively. This chromosome-level reference genome of N. aviator fills a gap in the existing information on the genomes of carnivorous bats, especially avivorous ones, and will be valuable for mechanism of adaptations to dietary niche expansion in bat species.

Whole-genome sequencing of Ganoderma boninense, the causal agent of basal stem rot disease in oil palm, via combined short- and long-read sequencing

The hemibiotrophic Basidiomycete pathogen Ganoderma boninense (Gb) is the dominant causal agent of oil palm basal stem rot disease. Here, we report a complete chromosomal genome map of Gb using a combination of short-read Illumina and long-read Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) sequencing platforms combined with chromatin conformation capture data from the Chicago and Hi-C platforms. The genome was 55.87 Mb in length and assembled to a high contiguity (N50: 304.34 kb) of 12 chromosomes built from 112 scaffolds, with a total of only 4.34 Mb (~ 7.77%) remaining unplaced. The final assemblies were evaluated for completeness of the genome by using Benchmarking Universal Single Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) v4.1.4, and based on 4464 total BUSCO polyporales group searches, the assemblies yielded 4264 (95.52%) of the conserved orthologs as complete and only a few fragmented BUSCO of 42 (0.94%) as well as a missing BUSCO of 158 (3.53%). Genome annotation predicted a total of 21,074 coding genes, with a GC content ratio of 59.2%. The genome features were analyzed with different databases, which revealed 2471 Gene Ontology/GO (11.72%), 5418 KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) Orthologous/KO (25.71%), 13,913 Cluster of Orthologous Groups of proteins/COG (66.02%), 60 ABC transporter (0.28%), 1049 Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes/CAZy (4.98%), 4005 pathogen–host interactions/PHI (19%), and 515 fungal transcription factor/FTFD (2.44%) genes. The results obtained in this study provide deep insight for further studies in the future.

A Chromosomal-Level Genome of Dermatophagoides farinae, a Common Allergenic Mite Species.

Genome data have been used to find novel allergen from house dust mites. Here, we aim to construct a chromosome-level genome assembly of Dermatophagoides farinae, a common allergenic mite species. We achieved a chromosome-level assembly of D. farinae's genome by integrating PacBio single-molecule real-time sequencing, Illumina paired-end sequencing, and Hi-C technology, followed by annotating allergens and mapping them to specific chromosomes. A 62.43 Mb genome was assembled with a 0.52% heterozygosity rate and a 36.11 Merqury-estimated quality value. The assembled genome represents 92.1% completeness benchmarking universal single-copy orthologs with a scaffold N50 value of 7.11 Mb. Hi-C scaffolding of the genome resulted in construction of 10 pseudochromosomes. The genome comprises 13.01% (7.66 Mb) repetitive sequences and predicts 10,709 protein-coding genes, 96.57% of which are functionally annotated. Moreover, we identified and located 36 allergen groups on specific chromosomes, including allergens Der f 1, Der f 2, Der f 23, Der f 4, Der f 5, Der f 7, and Der f 21 located on chromosomes 2, 1, 7, 3, 4, 6, and 4, respectively. This comprehensive genomic data provides valuable insights into mite biology and evolutionary adaptations, potentially advancing D. farinae allergy research and treatment strategies.

Genome assembly of Melilotus officinalis provides a new reference genome for functional genomics

BackgroundSweet yellow clover (Melilotus officinalis) is a diploid plant (2n = 16) that is native to Europe. It is an excellent legume forage. It can both fix nitrogen and serve as a medicine. A genome assembly of Melilotus officinalis that was collected from Best corporation in Beijing is available based on Nanopore sequencing. The genome of Melilotus officinalis was sequenced, assembled, and annotated.ResultsThe latest PacBio third generation HiFi assembly and sequencing strategies were used to produce a Melilotus officinalis genome assembly size of 1,066 Mbp, contig N50 = 5 Mbp, scaffold N50 = 130 Mbp, and complete benchmarking universal single-copy orthologs (BUSCOs) = 96.4%. This annotation produced 47,873 high-confidence gene models, which will substantially aid in our research on molecular breeding. A collinear analysis showed that Melilotus officinalis and Medicago truncatula shared conserved synteny. The expansion and contraction of gene families showed that Melilotus officinalis expanded by 565 gene families and shrank by 56 gene families. The contacted gene families were associated with response to stimulus, nucleotide binding, and small molecule binding. Thus, it is related to a family of genes associated with peptidase activity, which could lead to better stress tolerance in plants.ConclusionsIn this study, the latest PacBio technology was used to assemble and sequence the genome of the Melilotus officinalis and annotate its protein-coding genes. These results will expand the genomic resources available for Melilotus officinalis and should assist in subsequent research on sweet yellow clover plants.

The chromosome-level genome assembly of the giant dobsonfly Acanthacorydalis orientalis (McLachlan, 1899)

Acanthacorydalis orientalis (McLachlan, 1899) (Megaloptera: Corydalidae) is an important freshwater-benthic invertebrate species that serves as an indicator for water-quality biomonitoring and is valuable for conservation from East Asia. Here, a high-quality reference genome for A. orientalis was constructed using Oxford Nanopore sequencing and High throughput Chromosome Conformation Capture (Hi-C) technology. The final genome size is 547.98 Mb, with the N50 values of contig and scaffold being 7.77 Mb and 50.53 Mb, respectively. The longest contig and scaffold are 20.57 Mb and 62.26 Mb in length, respectively. There are 99.75% contigs anchored onto 13 pseudo-chromosomes. Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) analysis showed that the completeness of the genome assembly is 99.01%. There are 10,977 protein-coding genes identified, of which 84.00% are functionally annotated. The genome contains 44.86% repeat sequences. This high-quality genome provides substantial data for future studies on population genetics, aquatic adaptation, and evolution of Megaloptera and other related insect groups.

A high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of the Chinese medaka Oryzias sinensis

Oryzias sinensis, also known as Chinese medaka or Chinese ricefish, is a commonly used animal model for aquatic environmental assessment in the wild as well as gene function validation or toxicology research in the lab. Here, a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of O. sinensis was generated using single-tube long fragment read (stLFR) reads, Nanopore long-reads, and Hi-C sequencing data. The genome is 796.58 Mb, and a total of 712.17 Mb of the assembled sequences were anchored to 23 pseudo-chromosomes. A final set of 22,461 genes were annotated, with 98.67% being functionally annotated. The Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) benchmark of genome assembly and gene annotation reached 95.1% (93.3% single-copy) and 94.6% (91.7% single-copy), respectively. Furthermore, we also use ATAC-seq to uncover chromosome transposase-accessibility as well as related genome area function enrichment for Oryzias sinensis. This study offers a new improved foundation for future genomics research in Chinese medaka.

Whole genome assembly and annotation of the King Angelfish (Holacanthus passer) gives insight into the evolution of marine fishes of the Tropical Eastern Pacific.

Holacanthus angelfishes are some of the most iconic marine fishes of the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP). However, very limited genomic resources currently exist for the genus. In this study we: (i) assembled and annotated the nuclear genome of the King Angelfish (Holacanthus passer), and (ii) examined the demographic history of H. passer in the TEP. We generated 43.8 Gb of ONT and 97.3 Gb Illumina reads representing 75× and 167× coverage, respectively. The final genome assembly size was 583 Mb with a contig N50 of 5.7 Mb, which captured 97.5% of the complete Actinoterygii Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCOs). Repetitive elements accounted for 5.09% of the genome, and 33,889 protein-coding genes were predicted, of which 22,984 were functionally annotated. Our demographic analysis suggests that population expansions of H. passer occurred prior to the last glacial maximum (LGM) and were more likely shaped by events associated with the closure of the Isthmus of Panama. This result is surprising, given that most rapid population expansions in both freshwater and marine organisms have been reported to occur globally after the LGM. Overall, this annotated genome assembly provides a novel molecular resource to study the evolution of Holacanthus angelfishes, while facilitating research into local adaptation, speciation, and introgression in marine fishes.

Chromosome-Scale Genome Sequence Resource for Two Neopestalotiopsis spp. Isolates with Different Virulence in Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa)

Several Neopestalotiopsis spp. have been reported to affect strawberry worldwide. Here, we sequenced two isolates of Neopestalotiopsis 19-02 (highly virulent) and 13-481 (moderately virulent) recovered from commercial strawberry fields in Florida and generated chromosome-scale assemblies using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Illumina platforms. Each genome assembly for 19-02 and 13-481 contained putative telomere sequences at the 5′ and 3′ ends. By analyzing the collinearity of the two newly assembled genomes and verifying the conserved telomere sequence at the end of each chromosome, we confirmed that the genome of Neopestalotiopsis spp. consists of seven basic chromosomes. Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) analysis showed 98.5% of conserved core genes for both genome assemblies, 19-02 and 13-481. Phylogenetic analysis with internal transcribed spacer, beta-tubulin, and translation elongation factor regions obtained from the assemblies 19-02 and 13-481 demonstrated that the highly virulent isolate 19-02 is phylogenetically distinct from moderate virulent N. rosae 13-481. Comparative genome analysis of the high-quality reference genome assemblies provided in this study will facilitate the identification of genomic regions responsible for the different virulence of the Neopestalotiopsis pathogen to strawberry. [Formula: see text] The author(s) have dedicated the work to the public domain under the Creative Commons CC0 “No Rights Reserved” license by waiving all of his or her rights to the work worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law, 2024.

A chromosome-level genome of mango exclusively from long-read sequence data.

Improvements in long-read sequencing techniques have greatly accelerated plant genome sequencing. Current de novo assemblies are routinely achieved by assembling long-read sequence data into contigs that are assembled to chromosome level by chromatin conformation capture. We report here a chromosome-level mango genome using only PacBio high-fidelity (HiFi) long reads. HiFi reads at high coverage (204x) resulted in the assembly of 17 chromosomes, each as a single contig with telomeres at both ends. The remaining three chromosomes were represented each by two contigs, with telomeres at one end and ribosomal repeats at the other end. Analyzing contig ends allowed them to be paired and linked to generate the remaining three complete chromosomes, telomere-to-telomere but with ribosomal repeats of uncertain length. The assembled genome was 365 Mb with 100% completeness as assessed by Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs analysis. The haplotypes assembled demonstrated extensive structural differences. This approach using very high genome coverage may be useful for assembling high-quality genomes for many other plants.

A de novo chromosome-scale assembly of the Lablab purpureus genome.

Lablab (Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet), an underutilized tropical legume crop, plays a crucial role in global food and nutritional security. To enhance our understanding of its genetic makeup towards developing elite cultivars, we sequenced and assembled a draft genome of L. purpureus accession PK2022T020 using a single tube long fragment read (stLFR) technique. The preliminary assembly encompassed 367 Mb with a scaffold N50 of 4.3 Mb. To improve the contiguity of our draft genome, we employed a chromatin contact mapping (Hi-C) approach to obtain a pseudochromosome-level assembly containing 366 Mb with an N50 length of 31.1 Mb. A total of 327.4 Mb had successfully been anchored into 11 pseudomolecules, corresponding to the haploid chromosome number in lablab. Our gene prediction recovered 98.4% of the highly conserved orthologs based on the Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) analysis. Comparative analyses utilizing sequence information from single-copy orthologous genes demonstrated that L. purpureus diverged from the last common ancestor of the Phaseolus/Vigna species approximately 27.7 million years ago. A gene family expansion analysis revealed a significant expansion of genes involved in responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Our high-quality chromosome-scale reference assembly provides an invaluable genomic resource for lablab genetic improvement and future comparative genomics studies among legume species.

Genome Assembly and Annotation of the Dark-Branded Bushbrown Butterfly Mycalesis mineus (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae).

We report a high-quality genome draft assembly of the dark-branded bushbrown, Mycalesis mineus, a member of the Satyrinae subfamily of nymphalid butterflies. This species is emerging as a promising model organism for investigating the evolution and development of phenotypic plasticity. Using 45.99 Gb of long-read data (N50 = 11.11 kb), we assembled a genome size of 497.4 Mb for M. mineus. The assembly is highly contiguous and nearly complete (96.8% of Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs lepidopteran genes were complete and single copy). The genome comprises 38.71% of repetitive elements and includes 20,967 predicted protein-coding genes. The assembled genome was super-scaffolded into 28 pseudo-chromosomes using a closely related species, Bicyclus anynana, with a chromosomal-level genome as a template. This valuable genomic tool will advance both ongoing and future research focused on this model organism.

Whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomic analyses of the medicinal fungus Sanguinoderma infundibulare in Ganodermataceae.

Sanguinoderma infundibulare is a newly discovered species of Ganodermataceae known to have high medicinal and ecological values. In this study, the whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomic analyses were conducted to further understand Ganodermataceae's genomic structural and functional characteristics. Using the Illumina NovaSeq and PacBio Sequel platforms, 88 scaffolds were assembled to obtain a 48.99-Mb high-quality genome of S. infundibulare. A total of 14,146 protein-coding genes were annotated in the whole genome, with 98.6% of complete benchmarking universal single-copy orthologs (BUSCO) scores. Comparative genomic analyses were conducted among S. infundibulare, Sanguinoderma rugosum, Ganoderma lucidum, and Ganoderma sinense to determine their intergeneric differences. The 4 species were found to share 4,011 orthogroups, and 24 specific gene families were detected in the genus Sanguinoderma. The gene families associated with carbohydrate esterase in S. infundibulare were significantly abundant, which was reported to be involved in hemicellulose degradation. One specific gene family in Sanguinoderma was annotated with siroheme synthase, which may be related to the typical characteristics of fresh pore surface changing to blood red when bruised. This study enriched the available genome data for the genus Sanguinoderma, elucidated the differences between Ganoderma and Sanguinoderma, and provided insights into the characteristics of the genome structure and function of S. infundibulare.

The Genome of Arsenophonus sp. and Its Potential Contribution in the Corn Planthopper, Peregrinus maidis.

The co-evolution between symbionts and their insect hosts has led to intricate functional interdependencies. Advances in DNA-sequencing technologies have not only reduced the cost of sequencing but, with the advent of highly accurate long-read methods, have also enabled facile genome assembly even using mixed genomic input, thereby allowing us to more easily assess the contribution of symbionts to their insect hosts. In this study, genomic data recently generated from Peregrinus maidis was used to assemble the genome of a bacterial symbiont, Pm Arsenophonus sp. This ~4.9-Mb assembly is one of the largest Arsenophonus genomes reported to date. The Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) result indicates that this Pm Arsenophonus assembly has a high degree of completeness, with 96% of the single-copy Enterobacterales orthologs found. The identity of the Pm Arsenophonus sp. was further confirmed by phylogenetic analysis. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis indicates a major contribution by Pm Arsenophonus sp. to the biosynthesis of B vitamins and essential amino acids in P. maidis, where threonine and lysine production is carried out solely by Pm Arsenophonus sp. This study not only provides deeper insights into the evolutionary relationships between symbionts and their insect hosts, but also adds to our understanding of insect biology, potentially guiding the development of novel pest control methods.

Genome assembly and microsatellite marker development using Illumina and PacBio sequencing in Persicaria maackiana (Polygonaceae) from Korea.

Persicaria maackiana (Regel) is a potential medicinal plant that exerts anti-diabetic effects. However, the lack of genomic information on P. maackiana hinders research at the molecular level. Herein, we aimed to construct a draft genome assembly and obtain comprehensive genomic information on P. maackiana using high-throughput sequencing tools PacBio Sequel II and Illumina. Persicaria maackiana samples from three natural populations in Gaecheon, Gichi, and Uiryeong reservoirs in South Korea were used to generate genomic DNA libraries, perform genome de novo assembly, gene ontology analysis, phylogenetic tree analysis, genotyping, and identify microsatellite markers. The assembled P. maackiana genome yielded 32,179 contigs. Assessment of assembly integrity revealed 1503 (93.12%) complete Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs. A total of 64,712 protein-coding genes were predicted and annotated successfully in the protein database. In the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) orthologs, 13,778 genes were annotated into 18 categories. Genes that activated AMPK were identified in the KEGG pathway. A total of 316,992 microsatellite loci were identified, and primers targeting the flanking regions were developed for 292,059 microsatellite loci. Of these, 150 primer sets were randomly selected for amplification, and 30 of these primer sets were identified as polymorphic. These primers amplified 3-9 alleles. The mean observed and expected heterozygosity were 0.189 and 0.593, respectively. Polymorphism information content values of the markers were 0.361-0.754. Collectively, our study provides a valuable resource for future comparative genomics, phylogeny, and population studies of P. maackiana.

An eFP reference gene expression atlas for mangosteen

Mangosteen is the queen of fruits with many health benefits and high pharmaceutical potential but remains an underutilized crop. There are several reports of mangosteen organelle genomes and transcriptomes from various tissues but a reference genome or transcriptome is still lacking. In this study, we aimed to generate a publicly accessible reference transcriptome of Garcinia mangostana variety Manggis (local fruit in Southeast Asia) to facilitate research in mangosteen functional genomics. De novo assembly was performed using Trinity with all the Illumina sequence datasets and generated 369,861 transcripts with an N50 of 1,433 bp. SuperTranscripts and TGICL transcript clustering approaches were taken to reduce redundant transcripts, in which the latter generated a more comprehensive reference transcriptome with a higher N50 value, Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) score, and read mapping rates. A total of 118,165 (43.7 %) unigenes were functionally annotated. To visualize gene expression across different mangosteen tissues, developmental stages, and experiments based on the reference transcriptome, we constructed a mangosteen electronic Fluorescent Pictograph (eFP) browser. This allows users to easily visualize the expression of genes in absolute, relative, and compare modes. In addition, researchers can perform online BLAST search against the in-house BAR SequenceServer for homologous sequences that match mangosteen transcripts to explore corresponding expression patterns via direct links to the eFP browser. This reference transcriptome and eFP browser (accessible at https://bar.utoronto.ca/efp_mangosteen/cgi-bin/efpWeb.cgi) provide a useful online tool for future research and improvement of mangosteen.

First Contiguous Genome Assembly of Japanese Lady Bell (Adenophora triphylla) and Insights into Development of Different Leaf Types.

Adenophora triphylla is an important medicinal and food plant found in East Asia. This plant is rich in secondary metabolites such as triterpenoid saponin, and its leaves can develop into different types, such as round and linear, depending on the origin of germination even within the same species. Despite this, few studies have comprehensively characterized the development processes of different leaf types and triterpenoid saponin pathways in this plant. Herein, we provide the first report of a high-quality genome assembly of A. triphylla based on a combination of Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Illumina sequencing methods. Its genome size was estimated to be 2.6 Gb, and the assembled genome finalized as 2.48 Gb, containing 57,729 protein-coding genes. Genome completeness was assessed as 95.6% using the Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs score. The evolutionary divergence of A. triphylla was investigated using the genomes of five plant species, including two other species in the Campanulaceae family. The species A. triphylla diverged approximately 51-118 million years ago from the other four plants, and 579 expanded/contracted gene families were clustered in the Gene Ontology terms. The expansion of the β-amyrin synthase (bAS) gene, a key enzyme in the triterpenoid saponin pathway, was identified in the A. triphylla genome. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis of the two leaf types revealed differences in the activity of starch, sucrose, unsaturated fatty acid pathways, and oxidoreductase enzymes. The heat and endoplasmic reticulum pathways related to plant stress were active in the development of round type leaf, while an enhancement of pyrimidine metabolism related to cell development was confirmed in the development of the linear type leaf. This study provides insight into the evolution of bAS genes and the development of different leaf types in A. triphylla.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of the Stoliczka’s Asian trident bat (Aselliscus stoliczkanus)

Stoliczka’s Asian trident bat (Aselliscus stoliczkanus) is a small-bodied species and very sensitive to climate change. Here, we presented a chromosome-level genome assembly of A. stoliczkanus by combining Illumina sequencing, Nanopore sequencing and high-throughput chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C) sequencing technology. The genome assembly was 2.18 Gb in size with 98.26% of the genome sequences anchored onto 14 autosomes and two sex chromosomes (X and Y). The quality of the genome assembly is very high with a contig and scaffold N50 of 72.98 and 162 Mb, respectively, Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) score of 96.6%, and the consensus quality value (QV) of 47.44. A total of 20,567 genes were predicted and 98.8% of these genes were functionally annotated. Syntenic blocks between A. stoliczkanus and Homo sapiens, together with previous comparative cytogenetic studies, provide valuable foundations for further comparative genomic and cytogenetic studies in mammals. The reference-quality genome of A. stoliczkanus contributes an important resource for conservative genomics and landscape genomics in predicting adaptation and vulnerability to climate change.

De novo genome and transcriptome assembly of Kelletia kelletii, a coastal gastropod and fisheries species exhibiting a northern range expansion

Understanding the genomic characteristics of non-model organisms can bridge research gaps between ecology and evolution. However, the lack of a reference genome and transcriptome for these species makes their study challenging. Here, we complete the first full genome and transcriptome sequence assembly of the non-model organism Kellet’s whelk, Kelletia kelletii, a marine gastropod exhibiting a poleward range expansion coincident with climate change. We used a combination of Oxford Nanopore Technologies, PacBio, and Illumina sequencing platforms and integrated a set of bioinformatic pipelines to create the most complete and contiguous genome documented among the Buccinoidea superfamily to date. Genome validation revealed relatively high completeness with low missing metazoan Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) and an average coverage of ∼70x for all contigs. Genome annotation identified a large number of protein-coding genes similar to some other closely related species, suggesting the presence of a complex genome structure. Transcriptome assembly and analysis of individuals during their period of peak embryonic development revealed highly expressed genes associated with specific Gene Ontology (GO) terms and metabolic pathways, most notably lipid, carbohydrate, glycan, and phospholipid metabolism. We also identified numerous heat shock proteins (HSPs) in the transcriptome and genome that may be related to coping with thermal stress during the sessile life history stage. A robust reference genome and transcriptome for the non-model organism K. kelletii provide resources to enhance our understanding of its ecology and evolution and potential mechanisms of range expansion for marine species facing environmental changes.

Nuclear and mitochondrial genome assemblies of the beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata, a globally important biocontrol agent of invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus.

Implementing a genetic-based approach to achieve the full potential of classical biocontrol programs has been advocated for decades. The availability of genome-level information brings the opportunity to scrutinize the biocontrol traits for their efficacy and evolvability. However, implementation of this advocacy remain limited to few instances. Biocontrol of a globally noxious weed, Parthenium hysterophorus, by the leaf-feeding beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata, has been in place for more than four decades now, with varying levels of success. Towards the first step in provisioning genetic-based improvement to this biocontrol program, we describe the nuclear and mitochondrial assemblies of Z. bicolorata. We assembled the genome from the long-read sequence data, error-corrected with high throughput short-reads and checked for contaminants and sequence duplication to produce a 936 Mb nuclear genome. With 96.5% BUSCO completeness and the LAI index 12.91, we present a reference quality assembly, which appeared to be repeat-rich at 62.7% genome-wide and consists of 29437 protein-coding regions. We detected signature of NUMTs in 80 nuclear positions comprising 13 Kb out of 17.9 Kb mitochondria genome sequence. This genome, along with its annotations, provides a valuable resource to gain further insights into the biocontrol traits of Z. bicolorata in improving the control of the invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus.