biostudies-literatureColle MUSDA-NIFA HATCHNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaUSDA-NIFA AFRIInner Mongolia Major and Special Program of Science and Technologygiz012https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6423372biostudies-literatureUnknown8(3)<h4>Background</h4>Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) has long been consumed for its unique flavor and composition of health-promoting phytonutrients. However, breeding efforts to improve fruit quality in blueberry have been greatly hampered by the lack of adequate genomic resources and a limited understanding of the underlying genetics encoding key traits. The genome of highbush blueberry has been particularly challenging to assemble due, in large part, to its polyploid nature and genome size.<h4>Findings</h4>Here, we present a chromosome-scale and haplotype-phased genome assembly of the cultivar "Draper," which has the highest antioxidant levels among a diversity panel of 71 cultivars and 13 wild Vaccinium species. We leveraged this genome, combined with gene expression and metaboGigaScienceHaplotype-phased genome and evolution of phytonutrient pathways of tetraploid blueberry.PMC6423372315603025163901101524110160571009804Bird KABaruch KVanBuren RColle MCallow PShiue LVorsa NBen-Zvi GWang JJiang NTang HXiong ZSchilmiller AWai CMLeisner CPOu SBrodt AWisecaver JHEdger PPAlger EIYocca AESwale TChilds KLSong GQBuell CRfalseHaplotype-phased genome and evolution of phytonutrient pathways of tetraploid blueberry.<h4>Background</h4>Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) has long been consumed for its unique flavor and composition of health-promoting phytonutrients. However, breeding efforts to improve fruit quality in blueberry have been greatly hampered by the lack of adequate genomic resources and a limited understanding of the underlying genetics encoding key traits. The genome of highbush blueberry has been particularly challenging to assemble due, in large part, to its polyploid nature and genome size.<h4>Findings</h4>Here, we present a chromosome-scale and haplotype-phased genome assembly of the cultivar "Draper," which has the highest antioxidant levels among a diversity panel of 71 cultivars and 13 wild Vaccinium species. We leveraged this genome, combined with gene expression and metabo2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Mar2026-05-02T03:06:52.362Z2019-06-06T21:00:36ZS-EPMC64233723071529410.1093/gigascience/giz012