Nature Communications (Apr 2023)

Analyses of a chromosome-scale genome assembly reveal the origin and evolution of cultivated chrysanthemum

  • Aiping Song,
  • Jiangshuo Su,
  • Haibin Wang,
  • Zhongren Zhang,
  • Xingtan Zhang,
  • Yves Van de Peer,
  • Fei Chen,
  • Weimin Fang,
  • Zhiyong Guan,
  • Fei Zhang,
  • Zhenxing Wang,
  • Likai Wang,
  • Baoqing Ding,
  • Shuang Zhao,
  • Lian Ding,
  • Ye Liu,
  • Lijie Zhou,
  • Jun He,
  • Diwen Jia,
  • Jiali Zhang,
  • Chuwen Chen,
  • Zhongyu Yu,
  • Daojin Sun,
  • Jiafu Jiang,
  • Sumei Chen,
  • Fadi Chen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-37730-3
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 1 – 15

Abstract

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Abstract Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) is a globally important ornamental plant with great economic, cultural, and symbolic value. However, research on chrysanthemum is challenging due to its complex genetic background. Here, we report a near-complete assembly and annotation for C. morifolium comprising 27 pseudochromosomes (8.15 Gb; scaffold N50 of 303.69 Mb). Comparative and evolutionary analyses reveal a whole-genome triplication (WGT) event shared by Chrysanthemum species approximately 6 million years ago (Mya) and the possible lineage-specific polyploidization of C. morifolium approximately 3 Mya. Multilevel evidence suggests that C. morifolium is likely a segmental allopolyploid. Furthermore, a combination of genomics and transcriptomics approaches demonstrate the C. morifolium genome can be used to identify genes underlying key ornamental traits. Phylogenetic analysis of CmCCD4a traces the flower colour breeding history of cultivated chrysanthemum. Genomic resources generated from this study could help to accelerate chrysanthemum genetic improvement.