A chromosome-level genome assembly for Ficus carica provides genetic insights into flowerless fig fruit development, psoralen biosynthesis, and drought tolerance.

ABSTRACT: Ficus carica L., an ancient crop of considerable economic value, exhibits distinctive biological traits, including flowerless fruit (syconium) development, psoralen biosynthesis, and drought tolerance. In this study, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly (323.03 Mb, N50 = 23.82 Mb) of F. carica, revealing an evolutionary divergence from the closely related genus Broussonetia approximately 50 million years ago. Comparative genomic analyses revealed a contraction in the s-domain receptor-like kinase gene family, which is associated with unisexual fruit formation, and identified conserved MADS-box transcription factor genes (FcAGL6, FcAP2, and FcSEP1/2) that regulate syconium development through spatiotemporal expression patterns. Metabolomic profiling demonstrated tissue-specific acc

SUBMITTER: Ren S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12545818 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature