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DNA Research

◐ Oxford University Press (OUP)

Preprints posted in the last 90 days, ranked by how well they match DNA Research's content profile, based on 26 papers previously published here. The average preprint has a 0.02% match score for this journal, so anything above that is already an above-average fit.

1
Genome and methylome of the root crop table beet (Beta vulgaris)

Holzweber, T.; Dorn, K. M.; Rasaki, L. A.; Dohm, J. C.; Himmelbauer, H.

2026-09-11 genomics 10.64898/2026.09.07.749830 medRxiv
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Table beet (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris var. vulgaris), also known as red beet, garden beet, or beetroot, is an important crop with both nutritional and agricultural value, yet high-quality genomic resources for this taxon are limited. We present the chromosome-scale genome assembly RefTab-1 based on PacBio and Hi-C data of the inbred table beet genotype W357B. The assembly has a size of 668.6 Mbp and an N50 of 72 Mbp, with 96% of the assembly anchored to nine pseudo-chromosomes. We annotated 64% repetitive DNA, 24,863 protein-coding genes, and 10,405 non-coding RNA loci including a 5S rRNA cluster on chromosome 4. Genome-wide methylation profiling using EM-seq revealed high levels of cytosine methylation in repeats and context-specific methylation in gene bodies and promoters. We propose three terpene synthase candidate genes based on functional annotation and based on their location near a genetic marker on chromosome 8 previously associated with geosmin concentration, responsible for the earthy aroma of table beet. Comparative analysis with sugar beet indicated overall structural conservation and a 9 Mbp inversion on chromosome 9. These high-quality resources for table beet will enhance genetic, epigenetic, and comparative studies in Beta vulgaris, advancing beet biology and breeding programs.

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Chromosome-scale genome assembly and annotation of the Vietnamese indica rice cultivar Khang Dan 18

Nguyen, T. Q.; Do, K. H. D.; Vu, T. M.; Hoang, N. V.

2026-08-21 plant biology 10.64898/2026.08.15.742683 medRxiv
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Khang Dan 18 (KD18) is an Oryza sativa L. subsp. indica rice cultivar widely cultivated in northern Vietnam and used as an experimental and breeding background in Vietnamese rice research. Although KD18 has previously been represented in low-depth population resequencing datasets, a contiguous and annotated cultivar-specific genome has not been available. Here, we report a chromosome-scale genome assembly of KD18 generated using Oxford Nanopore long-read and Illumina short-read sequencing. The 395.3-Mb assembly comprises 12 chromosome-scale pseudomolecules containing approximately 95% of the assembled sequence and 99.6% of the predicted protein-coding genes. The assembly showed 97.2% BUSCO completeness, an average Merqury quality value of 46 and a long terminal repeat assembly index of 13.21. A total of 56,546 protein-coding genes representing 71,237 transcripts were predicted, with 99% BUSCO and 98.68% OMArk completeness. These statistics are similar to those of other high-quality genome assemblies that were recently published for different Asian rice cultivars, therefore providing a cultivar-specific genomic resource for research involving KD18 and KD18-derived materials.

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Gap-free telomere-to-telomere haplotypes assembly of the hybrid grouper 'Yushuban' (Cromileptes altivelis female x Epinephelus fuscoguttatus male)

Cai, Y.; Wang, C.; Li, M.; Yang, Y.; Cai, C.; Lu, S.; Chen, S.

2026-09-25 genomics 10.64898/2026.09.20.752973 medRxiv
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The hybrid grouper 'Yushuban' (Cromileptes altivelis [female] x Epinephelus fuscoguttatus [male]) has shown promising performance in aquaculture trials, yet no complete reference genome has been available for this hybrid. We generated two gapless, telomere-to-telomere (T2T) haplotype-resolved genome assemblies of a single individual by integrating short-read, PacBio HiFi, Oxford Nanopore ultralong-read and Hi-C data. The maternal (Yushu_Calti_1.0) and paternal (Yushu_Efusc_1.0) haplotypes are 1,077.33 Mb and 1,083.36 Mb in length, with N50 values of 45.46 Mb and 45.55 Mb, respectively. Across all platforms, over 99.4% of reads mapped to each assembly, and Merqury-based quality values reached 57.7413 and 59.2068 (PacBio). BUSCO recovered 99.78% and 99.75% of complete core genes. We predicted 27,248 and 27,566 protein-coding genes, of which 98.52% and 99.23% were functionally annotated, and annotated telomeric motifs and repetitive elements (46.12% and 47.18% of each genome). These assemblies fill a gap in grouper genomic resources and provide a foundation for genetic dissection, parental genome comparison and molecular breeding of this hybrid.

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Genomic and ecological characterization of unclassified tetraploid Echinochloa plants distributed in northern Japan

Kubo, T.; Ikeda, H.; Yasuda, K.; Kurokawa, S.

2026-09-11 plant biology 10.64898/2026.09.08.750280 medRxiv
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Understanding the evolutionary origins of globally noxious weeds provides insights into the genetic background of weediness. Among species of Echinochloa, the hexaploid E. crus-galli was previously thought to have arisen through hybridization and allopolyploidization between tetraploid E. oryzicola and an undiscovered diploid species, although they exhibit marked differences in both ecological and morphological characteristics. Recently, in Japan, unknown tetraploid Echinochloa plants were discovered that exhibit distinct ecological and morphological characteristics from those of E. oryzicola, with some traits showing greater similarity to those of E. crus-galli. In this study, we investigated the relationships between well-known Echinochloa species and these unknown tetraploid plants, hereafter referred to as ''ninja''. Subgenome-based read mapping analysis and phylogenetic analysis revealed that ninja possesses a distinct genomic composition, while showing close relationships to E. oryzicola in both its chloroplast and nuclear genomes. Furthermore, the identification of a very small number of ninja x E. oryzicola hybrids among field-collected individuals suggests that these two species rarely hybridize in the wild. Although ninja and E. oryzicola showed similar genomic compositions, ninja has a broader habitat range, partially overlapping with that of E. oryzicola and extending into areas occupied by E. crus-galli. Our findings indicate the possibility that hexaploid E. crus-galli may have originated from a tetraploid Echinochloa species other than E. oryzicola.

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Transcriptomic datasets of melittin- and un-treated murine cervical carcinoma U14 cells

Zhang, R.; Zhang, Y.; Wang, M.; Jiang, J.; Li, Y.; Chen, D.; Yan, T.; Guo, R.

2026-07-28 genomics 10.64898/2026.07.25.739748 medRxiv
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Melittin, a potent amphipathic cationic peptide derived from bee venom, exhibits broad-spectrum antineoplastic efficacy, notably against cervical carcinoma. Despite its established therapeutic potential, the global transcriptional reprogramming orchestrating its acute multi-pathway cytotoxicity remains incompletely understood. To bridge this knowledge gap, we generated the first comprehensive, untargeted RNA-seq dataset profiling the acute phase of melittin-induced cell death in murine cervical carcinoma U14 cells (exposed to 4 g/mL melittin for 20 minutes) alongside untreated controls. Utilizing deep sequencing and rigorous bioinformatics workflows, we quantified genome-wide mRNA abundances and mapped a distinct transcriptomic shift, identifying 254 significantly differentially expressed genes, comprising 158 up- and 96 down-regulated transcripts. Validated by stringent quality control metrics, exceptional genomic mapping rates, and comprehensive functional annotations via the GO and KEGG databases, this high-resolution transcriptomic resource provides a systems-level map of early molecular alterations. All raw and processed sequencing data are publicly available. This transcriptomic resource provides a valuable foundation for elucidating the acute regulatory networks underlying melittin-induced anti-cervical cancer effects. DatasetThe dataset can be accessed through the NGDC website by searching with the BioProject accession number PRJCA068439. Reviewers may use this link for anonymous access during the review process. Direct URL to data: Genome Sequence Archive-CNCB-NGDC

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Chromosome-scale genome assembly of the North American invasive Asteraceae, Tanacetum vulgare (common tansy)

Tadesse, D.; Platts, A.; Croghan, L.; Smith, A.; Anderson, N. O.; Becker, R.; Edger, P. P.; Tancos, M.

2026-10-06 genomics 10.64898/2026.09.30.755630 medRxiv
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Common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), a significant agricultural invasive species, threatens forage productivity, livestock carrying capacity, and plant biodiversity across North American agroecosystems. Despite being a close relative to the ornamental Asteraceae Chrysanthemum, T. vulgare genomic studies are severely lacking, but remain critical to the development of novel weed management tools and the investigation of plant invasion evolution. In this study, we performed the assembly and annotation of the diploid genome (2n=2x=18) of an invasive North American T. vulgare genotype using long-read PacBio HiFi and Iso-Seq sequencing technology. The assembled haplotype genome comprised 9 pseudomolecules with a total size of ~4.8 Gb and a scaffold N50 of 546 Mb. In addition, both the plastid and mitochondrial genome sequences were assembled. BUSCO analysis revealed a high overall genome completeness with 69,343 predicted protein-coding genes (AED<0.6: 98%). A high-quality North American invasive reference T. vulgare genome, complementing a recent one assembled for a native European accession, is critical for the investigation of plant invasion biology, genome evolution, and the future development of novel genetic biocontrol weed management technologies.

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Valeriana officinalis genome sequence reveals candidate genes for valerenic acid biosynthesis and flavonoid metabolism

de Oliveira, J. A. V. S.; Baez, M.; Pucker, B.

2026-08-21 genomics 10.64898/2026.08.14.744958 medRxiv
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Valeriana officinalis is the scientific name for valerian, a plant known for producing valerenic acid, a compound with anxiolytic properties. Anxiety disorders represent a significant global health crisis, impacting everyday lives. As the global demand for natural, non-synthetic anxiety treatments rises, V. officinalis has emerged as a promising, yet underutilized, medicinal resource. Understanding its genome is the first step toward unraveling the biosynthetic genes underlying valerenic acid production, facilitating further research into its production. Here, we report the first genome sequence of valerian, with an assembly size of 3.3 Gbp and an N50 of 110.8 Mbp, and its corresponding annotation with 96.6% completeness, providing a foundational resource for studying the genetic basis of specialized metabolism in valerian. The value of this genome sequence for discoveries in specialized metabolism is demonstrated by the identification of the flavonoid biosynthesis gene repertoire and the selection of strong candidate genes for valerenic acid biosynthesis. This genome sequence holds the potential to support future functional studies aimed at elucidating the regulation of medically relevant metabolite pathways in V. officinalis.

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A subgenome-resolved and chromosome-scale reference genome assembly of allotetraploid wheat wild relative Aegilops peregrina

Singh, J.; Gudi, S.; Maughan, P. J.; Gill, U.; Gupta, R.

2026-08-30 genomics 10.64898/2026.08.28.747929 medRxiv
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Aegilops peregrina is a wild allotetraploid wheat wild relative and an important source of genetic diversity for stress tolerance and agronomic traits. Here, we report a subgenome-resolved, chromosome-scale reference genome assembly of a drought tolerant and stem rust resistant Ae. peregrina accession PI 604178 generated using PacBio HiFi and Hi-C sequencing. The 10.13 Gb assembly contains 98.81% of sequence anchored to 14 pseudomolecules representing the seven S and seven U chromosomes, with contig and scaffold N50 values of 25.84 and 746.48 Mb, respectively. The assembly achieved a consensus quality value of 74.61, 97.83% k-mers completeness, and 99.9% BUSCO completeness. LTR Assembly Index values of 20.43 and 18.79 for the S and U subgenomes, respectively, further supported high continuity across repeat-rich regions. Repetitive elements comprise 85.93% of chromosome-anchored assembly. We annotated 59,910 high-confidence protein-coding genes, with comparable gene representation across the two subgenomes. This reference genome provides a high-quality genomic framework for comparative analyses, characterization of important loci regulating agronomic and resilience related traits, and sequence-guided exploitation of Ae. peregrina allelic diversity for wheat improvement.

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The epigenomic landscape of deep lineage divergence: The case of the European sea bass

Longo, A.; Babbucci, M.; Jiao, Z.; Ferraresso, S.; Franch, R.; Bortoletti, M.; Bertotto, D.; Faggion, S.; Ilsley, G. R.; Papadogiannis, V.; Manousaki, T.; Kristoffersen, J.; Tsigenopoulos, C. S.; Macqueen, D. J.; Bargelloni, L.

2026-07-28 evolutionary biology 10.64898/2026.07.27.738391 medRxiv
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BackgroundUnderstanding the role of non-coding genomic variation in speciation remains a major challenge in evolutionary biology. Here, we investigated whether regulatory elements contribute to this process between Atlantic and Mediterranean lineages of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), a well-characterized case-study near speciation where barriers to introgression exist in the presence of connectivity between diverging populations. ResultsWe generated a novel, highly contiguous genome assembly, which was annotated at the epigenomic level using ATAC-seq and ChIP-seq with six embryonic developmental stages and five tissue types in adult fish, identifying thousands of promoters, enhancers, and open chromatin regions. Integrating this annotation with whole-genome sequence data from 65 individuals across three geographically distinct populations, we identified 57,505 outlier SNPs and 332 structural variants (SVs) showing elevated differentiation between Atlantic and East Mediterranean lineages. Outlier SVs affected key regulatory elements and coding genes, while outlier SNPs were enriched in regulatory elements, particularly enhancers active in adult tissues. Local genomic divergence correlated positively with regulatory element density, especially on chromosomes 1, 9, and 18, which are enriched in genes related to osmoregulation, immune response, and oxidative stress -- processes relevant to adaptation across contrasting marine environments. ConclusionsThese findings support a major role for regulatory variation in driving deep lineage divergence through local adaptation.

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Chromosome-level genome assembly of the Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida), the only oyster species native to the West Coast of North America

Calla, B.; Sim, S. B.; Yeats, M. S.; Johnson, K. M.; Chavez-Congrains, K.; Kauwe, A. N.; Plough, L. V.; Geib, S. M.

2026-10-01 genomics 10.64898/2026.09.23.753890 medRxiv
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The Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida) was once a major food source and a key component of coastal marine ecosystems and culture on the US West Coast. Overfishing and habitat contamination in the early to mid-20th century severely depleted populations of Olympia oysters, and the species is currently considered a species of concern. Although multiple restoration efforts are underway, progress understanding the species biology and recovery potential has been limited by the historical lack of genomic resources. Here, we report a chromosome-level assembly of the Olympia oyster. The assembly was built using Oxford Nanopore reads and Hi-C to obtain a highly contiguous 1.03 Gb-assembly consisting of 10 chromosomes. RNA from gills, mantle, adductor muscle, and a mix of brooding eggs and larvae were also sequenced as 150 nt long paired-end reads which were used to guide the genome annotation. Over 52 K genes were predicted in the genome, of which 34K were protein-coding. A BUSCO analysis on the assembly showed 98.9% of the mollusca_odb12 gene set were complete (with 2.1% duplicated, and 0.8% missing). The short RNA reads were also used to identify tissue-level gene expression signatures in adductor muscles, egg and brooding larvae, and mantle. Development-related genes were highly expressed in eggs and brooding larvae whereas many xenobiotic metabolism genes were present in mantle tissues, highlighting mantles role in the interaction of the oyster with external environments. This new genomic resource will greatly advance our understanding of this keystone mollusk and provide a critical tool for guiding restoration efforts and the development of sustainable commercial production.

11
Whole genome sequences and annotations of Japanese and French strains of Heterosigma akashiwo

Kondo, T.; Sakamoto, M.; Tokumaru, M.; Tanizawa, Y.; Nakamura, Y.; Toyoda, A.; Ueki, S.

2026-08-23 genomics 10.64898/2026.08.19.745619 medRxiv
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High-quality reference genomes provide an essential foundation for elucidating the molecular basis of organismal ecophysiology. Here, we sequenced and assembled chromosome-scale genomes of two Heterosigma akashiwo strains isolated from coastal waters of Japan and France. The assembly sizes were 1.18 Gb and 1.43 Gb for the Japanese and French strains, respectively. The scaffold N50 of the Japanese strain assembly was 66 Mb, whereas the one of the unscaffolded French strain assembly was 33 Mb. To our knowledge, these assemblies represent among the largest and most contiguous genome resources currently available for members of the Stramenopiles (Ochrophyta). Evidence-based gene prediction in the Japanese strain recovered approximately 90% of conserved stramenopile core genes, indicating a highly complete gene repertoire, and was complemented by extensive functional annotation. In the French strain, homology-based gene prediction recovered approximately 80% of conserved core genes. Comparative genome analysis revealed extensive synteny conservation between the two strains, although several putative duplication and translocation events were detected. These genomic resources provide a robust framework for investigating the molecular, cellular, and ecological mechanisms underlying the physiology, adaptation, and bloom-forming capacity of H. akashiwo.

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Chromosome-level, haplotype-resolved genome assembly of the tanniferous forage legume big trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus Cav.) using CiFi

Pettersson, A. T.; Chen, Y.; Davalan, T.; Nicholson, P.; Kopecky, D.; Studer, B.; KÖlliker, R.

2026-09-15 genomics 10.64898/2026.09.09.749848 medRxiv
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Big trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus Cav.) is a perennial forage legume that thrives on acidic, low-fertility soils and produces condensed tannins that reduce enteric methanogenesis in ruminants. Despite this agronomic potential, genomic resources for the species remain scarce, and the existing haploid assembly does not resolve the two haplotypes of this outcrossing diploid species. Here we present a haplotype-resolved, chromosome-level reference genome for L. pedunculatus genotype Lusitano29 -- the first plant genome assembled using CiFi, a long-read chromosome conformation capture method. We combined PacBio HiFi long reads with CiFi concatemers produced from DpnII and HindIII libraries; in silico digestion and combinatorial pairing of the resulting monomers yielded 790.3 M and 10.3 M pseudo-paired contacts, respectively, enabling scaffolding and manual curation to chromosome level. The 991.1 Mb assembly resolves two phased haplotypes of 500 and 491 Mb, with 96.6% of the sequence anchored in twelve pseudo-chromosomes (six per haplotype). Telomeric repeats were detected at 19 of 24 pseudo-chromosome ends, and no structural errors were detected (scaffold N50 73.8 Mb; consensus QV 64.7; k-mer completeness 99.4%; genome-mode BUSCO completeness 97.0%; CRAQ S-AQI 100.0). Annotation supported by PacBio Iso-Seq full-length transcripts predicted 38,069 and 36,484 protein-coding genes in haplotypes 1 and 2, respectively (protein-mode BUSCO completeness 96.5%), indicating a high completeness of annotated genes. This genome assembly provides a foundation for allele-aware trait dissection of proanthocyanidin biosynthesis, comparative genomics in Lotus, and population genomics and genomics-assisted breeding in L. pedunculatus.

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Chromosome-level genome assemblies and annotations of Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus acanthochiton, Amaranthus arenicola, and Amaranthus floridanus

Raiyemo, D. A.; Werle Noe, I.; Kaur, R.; Whitt, L.; Carey, S. B.; Hale, H.; Lewis, K. J.; Womack, L.; Harkess, A.; Llaca, V.; Fengler, K.; Patterson, E. L.; Gaines, T. A.; Tranel, P. J.

2026-08-25 genomics 10.64898/2026.08.21.746229 medRxiv
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Amaranthus L. spans aggressive agricultural weeds, ornamentals, and ancient pseudocereals. Species within the genus vary in morphology, environmental tolerance, and sexual systems, making them well-suited for studying reproductive evolution and plant adaptation. To investigate sex chromosome architecture within the genus, we generated chromosome-level assemblies of a monoecious amaranth (Amaranthus spinosus) and three dioecious species (A. acanthochiton, A. arenicola, and A. floridanus) using PacBio high-fidelity (HiFi) long reads. We paired these data with Dovetail Genomics Omni-C sequencing to achieve haplotype resolution for A. spinosus and A. acanthochiton, and we used reference-guided scaffolding for the remaining two species. The assemblies are highly contiguous, with sizes ranging from 394.24 to 607.10 Mbp, contig N50 from 0.63 to 8.76 Mbp, and scaffold N50 from 22.44 to 37.97 Mbp. Evaluation of the assemblies and annotations revealed 96.3 to 97.6%, and 97.6 to 98.3% BUSCO completeness, respectively. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that the Chromosome 1 inversions and Robertsonian fusion previously reported in A. tuberculatus are conserved in A. acanthochiton and consistent with the architecture of A. arenicola and A. floridanus, suggesting that the evolution of dioecy in this clade predates subsequent speciation. In parallel, multiple homologs of Rf1 on Chromosome 3 of A. spinosus, a monoecious species that exhibits spatial separation of male and female flowers and is closely related to the dioecious A. palmeri, were identified. Together, this study provides foundational resources for advancing evolutionary, ecological, and agronomic research across the genus, including herbicide resistance evolution and weediness traits.

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Chromosome-level genome assembly of the European leaf-toed gecko, Euleptes europaea

Paris, J. R.; Abueg, L.; Pelan, S.; Sims, Y.; Tilley, T.; Mountcastle, J.; Balacco, J.; OToole, B.; Fedrigo, O.; Formenti, G.; Jarvis, E. D.; Canestrelli, D.; Salvi, D.

2026-08-18 genomics 10.64898/2026.08.10.744031 medRxiv
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The European leaf-toed gecko (Euleptes europaea) is a small, nocturnal gecko endemic to the western Mediterranean. As a phylogenetically distinctive member of the Gondwanan family Sphaerodactylidae, it represents an important species for studying Mediterranean island biogeography, adaptation, and reptile genome evolution. The species also occupies a key position for investigating the evolution of sex chromosomes, as geckos exhibit remarkable diversity and frequent transitions in sex-determination systems. We present a chromosome-level genome assembly of Euleptes europaea generated as part of the Vertebrate Genomes Project. The 1.8 Gb assembly has a scaffold N50 of 102.3 Mb (contig N50 27 Mb), with 21 chromosome-scale scaffolds corresponding to the known karyotype (2n = 42). The primary assembly has a BUSCO completeness of 97.80% (95.60% as single-copy), a k-mer completeness of 96.00%, and a k-mer quality value (QV) of 61.20. Repetitive elements account for 53.20% of the genome and genome annotation identified 18,633 protein-coding genes. This high-quality reference genome will facilitate studies of genome evolution, island adaptation, and sex chromosome evolution across geckos and other reptiles.

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Reference-guided comparative genomics of seven Indonesian rice cultivars identifies conserved gene space and trait-associated sequence candidates

Purwestri, Y. A.; Wicaksono, A.; Nurbaiti, S.; Purba, N. T.; Retnaningati, D.; Restiani, R.; Kumalasari, N.; Nuringtyas, T. R.; Handayani, V. D. S.

2026-08-29 genomics 10.64898/2026.08.26.747264 medRxiv
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Indonesian rice cultivars represent valuable genetic resources, yet many remain poorly characterized at the genomic level. Here, we generated 95.40 Gb of PacBio HiFi sequence data from seven Indonesian rice cultivars and constructed cultivar-specific consensus genomes using the telomere-to-telomere Nipponbare reference AGIS1.0. Sequencing coverage ranged from 27.92x to 41.58x, and the resulting consensus genomes spanned 387.93-390.54 Mb, with BUSCO completeness of approximately 98.3-98.5%. OrthoFinder assigned 99.1% of predicted proteins to 40,737 orthogroups, including 27,514 core orthogroups represented across all seven cultivars, indicating a highly conserved predicted gene space within the reference-guided framework. Targeted analysis recovered 278 of 280 cultivar-by-locus combinations representing 40 genes or gene family entries associated with grain pigmentation, nitrogen and amino-acid metabolism, and starch properties. Comparative predicted protein analysis prioritized ANS1, SBE2b, SSIIa/ALK, Wx/GBSSI, OsAAP6/qPC1, and SSI as candidates for further investigation. Among 269 completed AGIS1.0-anchored promoter comparisons, 159 passed quality-control criteria, whereas 110 were flagged for gene-model, boundary, synteny, or structural concerns. Notably, these flagged comparisons accounted for more than 90% of the alignment-derived sequence variation, emphasizing the importance of rigorous quality control when interpreting apparent promoter divergence. Collectively, these reference-guided genomic resources provide a standardized framework for investigating sequence variation in Indonesian rice germplasm and prioritize testable coding and regulatory candidates for functional validation and future genomics-assisted crop improvement.

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The Polyploid History of Cultivated Dahlia

Meharg, Z. Z.; Webber, J.; Boston, L. B.; Grimwood, J.; Walbot, V.; Harkess, A.

2026-07-28 genomics 10.64898/2026.07.24.740608 medRxiv
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The cultivated dahlia has a complex evolutionary history that is likely the driver for its diverse floral forms. Previous studies have proposed cultivated dahlia as an allotetraploid, autotetraploid, and in one study an auto-allooctoploid. Here, we used PacBio HiFi long-reads and Dovetail Omni-C reads to assemble and annotate a genome for a tetraploid Dahlia variabilis cultivar Edna C. We identified Edna C as a segmental tetraploid with signature of auto- and allo-polyploidy events based on subgenome-specific repeat partitioning and single-copy gene tree construction within homoeologous groups. Additionally, we identified a cultivated dahlia-specific centromeric monomer shared between Dahlia variabilis Edna C and the Dahlia pinnata Kelvin Floodlight. Based on finding three major chromosome clusters, we propose that Dahlia variabilis Edna C is a segmental tetraploid with evidence of auto- and allopolyploidy.

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A novel mitogenome for Euterpe precatoria (Arecaceae)

Soler, L.; Alves Noguiera de Almeida, F.; Gibau de Lima, A.; Mosbech, M.-B.; Tellgren-Roth, C. T.-R.; Bacon, C. D.

2026-10-02 genomics 10.64898/2026.09.28.754896 medRxiv
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Mitochondrial genomes of angiosperms are unusual due to their large size, low gene content, and high structural variation. In the palm family (Arecaceae), mitochondrial architecture is highly dynamic, characterized by expansive sizes, fragmentation, and extensive recombination activity. This biological complexity presents a significant bioinformatic challenge, especially since only three complete palm mitochondrial genomes are publicly available to date. Here, we present the complete mitochondrial genome sequence for the Amazonian palm Euterpe precatoria, assembled de novo using PacBio HiFi long-read sequencing data. The assembly required extensive manual curation and graph tracing to resolve a complex recombination topology. The final resolved sequence spans 1,268,308 base pairs and is supported by a mean read coverage depth estimated at 746X. Annotation revealed a high degree of structural complexity, including 177 total gene features corresponding to 76 unique genes. This gene set includes 41 unique protein-coding genes (56 features), 32 unique tRNA genes (118 features), and three unique rRNA genes, reflecting the characteristic gene duplication and fragmentation documented in Arecaceae. The complete mitochondrial genome sequence is publicly available and provides a high-quality resource for understanding the mechanisms of plant mitochondrial genome expansion and structural evolution.

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Comparative Genomics of COBRA-like Genes in Theobroma and Herrania Reveals Structural Conservation and Lineage-Specific Variation

Oliveira, R. P.; Almeida, J. V. d. A.; Trinca, V.; Ballaben, A. S.; Oliveira, M. d. M.; Varani, A. d. M.

2026-09-15 bioinformatics 10.64898/2026.09.14.751154 medRxiv
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COBRA-like (COBL) genes encode plant-specific proteins associated with cell-wall organization, cellulose deposition, and developmental processes. Despite their functional relevance in model plants and crops, this gene family remains poorly characterized in Amazonian Malvaceae species. Here, we performed a comparative genomic analysis of COBL genes in two Theobroma grandiflorum clones, two T. cacao cultivars, and Herrania umbratica. Using homology searches, conserved domain validation, phylogenetic reconstruction, gene structure analysis, chromosomal mapping, transcript abundance profiling, molecular modeling, and selection tests, we identified 62 COBL genes across the analyzed genomes. COBL copy number varied among genomes, with T. cacao Matina showing the largest repertoire. All retained proteins contained the conserved COBRA domain and grouped into the two major COBL subgroups previously described in angiosperms, with subgroup-specific exon-intron organization largely conserved across species. Genomic distribution and duplication classification indicated contributions from tandem, segmental, dispersed, and proximal duplications, suggesting that multiple genomic processes shaped COBL family organization in Theobroma and Herrania. Phylogenetic analyses further recovered a putative lineage-specific COBL clade within the analyzed Malvaceae, indicating lineage-specific variation in this gene family. Structural modeling indicated overall conservation between representative proteins from this clade and COBL6-associated proteins, although localized amino acid differences were observed within the COBRA domain. Selection analyses supported predominant purifying selection across the family, with limited evidence of episodic diversifying selection in specific lineages and no significant branch-level signal within the putative lineage-specific clade after correction. Overall, these results provide a comparative framework for COBL gene evolution in Theobroma and Herrania and identify candidate genes for future functional studies on cell-wall-related traits in economically important Malvaceae crops.

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Chromosome-level assembly of the Arabian killifish as a novel biomedical model species.

Akinmusola, R. Y.; Kon, T.; Kon-Nanjo, K.; Minhas, R.; O'Neill, P.; Jeffries, A.; Shimada, Y.; Ramsdale, M.; Kudoh, T.

2026-09-17 genomics 10.64898/2026.09.15.751479 medRxiv
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The Arabian killifish (Aphaniops dispar) is an excellent model for studying human diseases such as fungal infections and cancer progression. The embryos possess a transparent chorion for live imaging and display an extended period of independent feeding (13 days post-fertilisation). They also exhibit broad thermal tolerance which enables live imaging at physiologically relevant human temperatures. However, omics resources for this species remain limited and restricts its use in genomics studies. We generated a 1.45 GB high-quality reference assembly with 24 chromosome-level scaffolds and N50 score of 60.64 Mb by combining long-read, long-range, and short-read sequencing. The A. dispar genome exhibits a high level of homozygosity (95.6%) with BUSCO gene completeness scores of 99.2% and 97.5% for the Actinopterygii and Cyprinodontiformes lineages, respectively. The genome is highly repetitive (58.7%) and the majority of these are DNA transposons. The mitochondrial genome is 81.55% similar to that of Aphanius iberus (the Spanish toothcarp), with minor structural modifications. A. dispar exhibits highly conserved synteny with Fundulus heteroclitus within the Cyprinodontoidei clade. Together, these findings provide a valuable genomic resource for comparative genomics within the teleost community.

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Lens species genome assemblies reveal evolutionarily fragile chromosomes associated with pericentric inversions

Silvestrini, A. J. A.; Ramsay, L.; Koh, K.; Baker, M.; Mau, M.; Kaur, S.; Sudheesh, S.; Rodde, N.; Pasipanodya, L.; Kagale, S.; Stonehouse, R.; Von-Wettberg, E. B.; Bett, K.

2026-09-04 genomics 10.64898/2026.09.02.749020 medRxiv
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The genus Lens is comprised of seven diploid species, including the cultivated crop Lentil, and six wild relatives often used in breeding programs for beneficial allele introgression. Lens species are proposed to exhibit considerable levels of genome structural variation both within and between species, which has implications for plant breeding and evolutionary genomics. Plant centromeres are key regions involved in chromosomal stability, where structural changes can be linked to meiotic abnormalities, resulting in inversions, translocations, and deletions of chromosomal segments. Fabeae centromeres are known to be diverse and do not fit the centromere drive model. The origins of this centromere diversity and the evolutionary trends remain unclear, but recent studies suggest that centromere structural variation plays a role in creating new sequence combinations that contribute to the unique centromere evolution patterns observed in legumes. We sequenced, assembled, and performed gene synteny analysis in the genomes of all seven Lens species using long-read sequencing technologies. We also located and characterized the centromeres in these genomes through ChIP-seq experiments to better understand their role in Lens chromosomal stability. Synteny analysis reveals that Lens genomes have undergone extensive rearrangements during evolution, with multiple translocations and inversions identified between species. Specific Lens chromosomes appear more susceptible to rearrangements over time. These same chromosomes also exhibit higher rates of rearrangement throughout Lens speciation. Fragile chromosomes are associated with the occurrence of pericentric inversions, likely disrupting stability. The diversity in satellite sequences in Lens centromeres likely results from structural changes accumulated throughout Lens evolution. These findings suggest that genome and centromere structure play significant roles in generating centromere diversity within this legume genus.