High-quality Chromosomal-Level Genome Assembly of the Wasabi (Eutrema japonicum) ‘Magic’

Abstract

Abstract Wasabi (Eutrema japonicum) is a plant belonging to the Brassicaceae family that produces its distinctive pungent taste through allyl isothiocyanate. This study achieved a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of the E. japonicum ‘Magic’ bred in Korea for its rapid growth cycle. The assembly was accomplished using a combination of Illumina, PacBio HIFI, Nanopore MinION, and Pore-C scaffolding technologies. The final assembled genome size is 794.6 Mb, anchored to 14 chromosomes. The genome comprises 67.56% repetitive elements and has a BUSCO score of 99.3%, indicating a high level of completeness. Compared to previously published assemblies with a different cultivar, the total length increased by approximately 48.08 Mb, while the number of Ns decreased from 89,000 to 49,000, and the assembly gaps (500 N padding) reduced from 178 to 98, resulting in a higher quality assembly. This genome will be a valuable resource for genetic and biological research on E. japonicum, aiding in its breeding and genetic improvement.