Chromosome-level genome assembly of Malus niedzwetzkyana, the mother of Rosybloom crabapple

Abstract

Abstract Malus niedzwetzkyana (MN) is the mother of Rosybloom hybrids, ornamental crabapples with red and purple flowers. We present a high-quality chromosome-scale genome for MN with a size of 672.64 Mb, anchored to 17 chromosomes and with a high BUSCO completeness score of 98.6%, reaching the ‘gold standard’ level. Moreover, our assembly has captured 28 telomeres. A total of 43,813 protein-coding genes was annotated in the MN genome. The assembled high quality provides a valuable opportunity to enhance our understanding of the genetic basis of flower colour and other ornamental traits in crabapples, thereby advancing the field of genetics and breeding.