The haplotype-resolved genome assembly of autotetraploid rhubarb Rheum officinale provides insights into its genome evolution and massive accumulation of anthraquinones.

ABSTRACT: Rheum officinale, a member of the Polygonaceae family, is an important medicinal plant that is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Here, we report a 7.68-Gb chromosome-scale assembly of R. officinale with a contig N50 of 3.47 Mb, which was clustered into 44 chromosomes across four homologous groups. Comparative genomics analysis revealed that transposable elements have made a significant contribution to its genome evolution, gene copy number variation, and gene regulation and expression, particularly of genes involved in metabolite biosynthesis, stress resistance, and root development. We placed the recent autotetraploidization of R. officinale at ∼0.58 mya and analyzed the genomic features of its homologous chromosomes. Although no dominant monoploid genomes were observed at the

SUBMITTER: Zhang H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10811376 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature