An Chang, Li Denglin, Lu Lin, Liu Chaojia, Xu Xiaowen, Xie Shiyu, Wang Jing, Liu Ruoyu, Yang Chengzi, Qin Yuan, Zheng Ping
Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
Pingtan Science and Technology Research Institute, College of Marine Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
Plants (Basel). 2024 Dec 18;13(24):3536. doi: 10.3390/plants13243536.
Medicinal plants have long played a crucial role in healthcare systems, but limited genomic information on these species has impeded the integration of modern biological technologies into medicinal plant research. In this study, we selected nine common medicinal plants, each belonging to a different plant family, including (Chloranthaceae), (Vitaceae), (Fabaceae), (Cucurbitaceae), (Polygonaceae), (Caryophyllaceae), (Rubiaceae), (Lamiaceae), and (Asteraceae), to estimate their genome sizes and conduct preliminary genomic surveys. The estimated genome sizes by flow cytometry were 3.66 Gb, 0.65 Gb, 0.58 Gb, 1.02 Gb, 3.96 Gb, 2.99 Gb, 0.43 Gb, 0.78 Gb, and 7.27 Gb, respectively. The genome sizes of , , and have been previously reported. Comparative analyses suggest that variations in genome size may arise due to differences in measurement methods and sample sources. Therefore, employing multiple approaches to assess genome size is necessary to provide more reliable information for further genomic research. Based on the genome survey, species with considerable genome size variation or polyploidy, such as , should undergo a ploidy analysis in conjunction with population genomics studies to elucidate the development of the diversified genome size. Additionally, a genome survey of , a medicinal plant with a relatively small genome size (509.08 Mb) and of considerable interest in southern China, revealed a low heterozygosity rate (0.382%) and moderate repeat content (51.24%). Given the limited research costs, this species represents a suitable candidate for further genomic studies on Leguminous medicinal plants characteristic of southern China. This foundational genomic information will serve as a critical reference for the sustainable development and utilization of these medicinal plants.
药用植物长期以来在医疗保健系统中发挥着关键作用，但这些物种有限的基因组信息阻碍了现代生物技术融入药用植物研究。在本研究中，我们选择了九种常见的药用植物，每种属于不同的植物科，包括金粟兰科、葡萄科、豆科、葫芦科、蓼科、石竹科、茜草科、唇形科和菊科，以估计它们的基因组大小并进行初步的基因组调查。通过流式细胞术估计的基因组大小分别为3.66 Gb、0.65 Gb、0.58 Gb、1.02 Gb、3.96 Gb、2.99 Gb、0.43 Gb、0.78 Gb和7.27 Gb。其中三种植物的基因组大小此前已有报道。比较分析表明，基因组大小的差异可能是由于测量方法和样本来源的不同造成的。因此，采用多种方法评估基因组大小对于为进一步的基因组研究提供更可靠的信息是必要的。基于基因组调查，具有显著基因组大小变异或多倍体的物种，如[物种名称未给出]，应结合群体基因组学研究进行倍性分析，以阐明多样化基因组大小的发展。此外，对一种基因组相对较小（509.08 Mb）且在中国南方具有相当研究价值的药用植物[物种名称未给出]的基因组调查显示，其杂合率较低（0.382%）且重复序列含量适中（51.24%）。鉴于研究成本有限，该物种是对中国南方豆科药用植物进行进一步基因组研究的合适候选者。这些基础基因组信息将为这些药用植物的可持续开发利用提供关键参考。
