Cerasus x kanzakura cv. 'Atami-zakura' Whole Genome v1.0 Assembly & Annotation

Publication

Kenta Shirasawa, Akihiro Itai, Sachiko Isobe, Genome sequencing and analysis of two early-flowering cherry (Cerasus × Kanzakura) varieties, 'Kawazu-zakura' and 'Atami-zakura', DNA Research, 2021;, dsab026, https://doi.org/10.1093/dnares/dsab026

Abstract

To gain genetic insights into the early-flowering phenotype of ornamental cherry, also known as sakura, 20 we determined the genome sequences of two early-flowering cherry (Cerasus × kanzakura) varieties, 21 'Kawazu-zakura' and 'Atami-zakura'. Since the two varieties are interspecific hybrids, likely derived from 22 crosses between Cerasus campanulata (early-flowering species) and Cerasus speciosa, we employed the 23 haplotype-resolved sequence assembly strategy. Genome sequence reads obtained from each variety by 24 single molecule real-time sequencing (SMRT) were split into two subsets, based on the genome sequence 25 information of the two probable ancestors, and assembled to obtain haplotype-phased genome sequences. 26 The resultant genome assembly of 'Kawazu-zakura' spanned 519.8 Mb with 1,544 contigs and an N50 27 value of 1,220.5 kb, while that of 'Atami-zakura' totaled 509.6 Mb with 2,180 contigs and an N50 value of 28 709.1 kb. A total of 72,702 and 69,528 potential protein-coding genes were predicted in the genome 29 assemblies of 'Kawazu-zakura' and 'Atami-zakura', respectively. Gene clustering analysis identified 2,634 30 clusters uniquely presented in the C. campanulata haplotype sequences, which might contribute to its 31 early-flowering phenotype. Genome sequences determined in this study provide fundamental information 32 for elucidating the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying the early-flowering phenotype of 33 ornamental cherry tree varieties and their relatives.