Project description:<p> The casuarina moth (Lymantria xylina) is a notorious forestry pest, posing severe ecological and economic threats due to its destructive defoliation outbreaks and high invasive potential. Despite its significance, a high-quality reference genome has been lacking, limiting molecular-level investigations into its biology and hindering the development of effective pest management strategies. In this study, we report the first chromosome-level genome assembly of L. xylina generated through a combination of illumina short-reads, Oxford Nanopore long-reads, and Hi-C scaffolding. The final assembly spans 977.74 Mb, with 95.17% anchored to 31 pseudo-chromosomes, achieving a scaffold N50 of 34.15 Mb. Importantly, telomeric sequences were identified at both ends of all 31 pseudo-chromosomes, underscoring the exceptional quality and completeness of this reference genome. Quality assessment further revealed a BUSCO completeness of 94.5% and a consensus QV of 31.72. We also annotated 18,484 protein-coding genes, 95.21% of which were functionally assigned, and characterized genome-wide repetitive elements (77.18%).</p><p> Beyond the genome assembly, we generated comprehensive RNA-seq and metabolomic datasets across multiple diapause stages, enabling insights into gene expression dynamics and metabolic regulation during egg development. Together, these resources provide a valuable foundation for studying the genetic basis of host adaptation, invasiveness, and interactions with natural enemies such as nucleopolyhedrovirus and Beauveria bassiana.</p>
Project description:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding, short, single-stranded RNAs with essential roles in gene regulation in various organisms including higher plants. In contrast to the vast information on miRNAs from many economically important plants, almost nothing has been reported on the identification or analysis of miRNAs from rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis L.), the most important natural rubber-producing crop. To identify miRNAs and their target genes in rubber tree, high throughput sequencing combined with a computational approach was performed. Four small RNA libraries were constructed for deep sequencing from mature and young leaves of two rubber tree clones, PB 260 and PB 217, which provide high and low latex yield, respectively. 237 miRNAs belonging to 37 known miRNA families were identified, and northern hybridization validated miRNA expression and revealed developmental stage-dependent and clone-specific expression for some miRNAs. We took advantage of the newly released rubber tree genome assembly as well as the genomic databases from leafy spurge and cassava, two species related to rubber tree, and predicted 15 novel miRNAs.
Project description:We describe an application of deep sequencing and de novo assembly of short RNA reads to investigate small interfering (si)RNAs mediated immunity in leaf samples from eight tree taxa naturally occurring in Wytham Woods, Oxfordshire, UK. BLAST search for homologues of contigs in the GenBank identified siRNA populations against a number of RNA viruses and a Ty1-copia retrotransposons in these tree species. Small RNA sequencing and de novo assembly
Project description:A new genome of Fraxinus excelsior (PRJNA865134) was assembled using a hybrid approach combining Nanopore and Illumina data. The gene expression of a 182 Danish tree panel (Harper et al. 2016) was assessed using the new genome as reference (BioProject PRJNA865134, SAMN30100368, genome JANJPF000000000 ).Manuscript title: Fraxinus excelsior updated long-read genome reveals the importance of MADS-box genes in tolerance mechanisms against ash dieback, G3:Genes|Genomes|Genetics
Project description:We describe an application of deep sequencing and de novo assembly of short RNA reads to investigate small interfering (si)RNAs mediated immunity in leaf samples from eight tree taxa naturally occurring in Wytham Woods, Oxfordshire, UK. BLAST search for homologues of contigs in the GenBank identified siRNA populations against a number of RNA viruses and a Ty1-copia retrotransposons in these tree species.