The Camellia sinensis var. sinensis cv. Fuding Dabaicha genome unveils structural variation-driven metabolic innovation.

ABSTRACT: Tea plants possess a highly heterozygous genome and produce diverse beneficial metabolites, yet the genomic basis of its metabolic diversity remains fully elusive. Here, we show that single-cell sequencing of 107 sperm cells, combined with PacBio HiFi and ONT ultra-long sequencing, enables an accurate haplotype-resolved genome assembly of Fuding Dabaicha (FDDB). Structural variations (SVs) between the two haplotypes comprise 23.8% of the genome and strongly influence crossover patterns. Using these phased genomes, we establish a half-sib-based QTL mapping platform and identify a Gypsy LTR insertion in the promoter of CsDFRb, which associated with the increasing of p-coumaroylquinate levels in young leaves. Moreover, mGWAS reveals 2649 additional loci associated with 2837 metabolites when u

SUBMITTER: Zhang W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12913673 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature