The chromosome-scale reference genome of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) provides insights into linoleic acid and flavonoid biosynthesis.

ABSTRACT: Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), a member of the Asteraceae, is a popular crop due to its high linoleic acid (LA) and flavonoid (such as hydroxysafflor yellow A) contents. Here, we report the first high-quality genome assembly (contig N50 of 21.23 Mb) for the 12 pseudochromosomes of safflower using single-molecule real-time sequencing, Hi-C mapping technologies and a genetic linkage map. Phyloge nomic analysis showed that safflower diverged from artichoke (Cynara cardunculus) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) approximately 30.7 and 60.5 million years ago, respectively. Comparative genomic analyses revealed that uniquely expanded gene families in safflower were enriched for those predicted to be involved in lipid metabolism and transport and abscisic acid signalling. Notably, the fatty

SUBMITTER: Wu Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8428823 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature