Tu Xiong-De, Lin Wen-Jun, Xin Ya-Xuan, Fu Hou-Hua, Zhou Cheng-Yuan, Lin Yi-Zhe, Shen Jun, Chen Shuai, Lian Hui, Jiang Shu-Zhen, Liu Bin, Li Yu, Wang Zi, Liu Ding-Kun, Wang Zhi-Wen, Lan Siren, Li Ming-He, Liu Zhong-Jian, Chen Shi-Pin
College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.
Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration for Orchid Conservation and Utilization at College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.
Mol Hortic. 2025 Jun 4;5(1):33. doi: 10.1186/s43897-025-00152-4.
The Fagaceae family, comprising over 900 species, is an essential component of Northern Hemisphere forest ecosystems. However, genomic data for tropical and subtropical genera Castanopsis and Castanea remain limited compared to the well-studied oak. Here, we present chromosome-level genome assemblies of Castanopsis carlesii and Castanea henryi, with assembled genome sizes of 927.24 Mb (N50 = 1.57 Mb) and 780.10 Mb (N50 = 1.07 Mb), respectively, and repetitive sequence contents of 45.79% and 44.88%. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that the estimated divergence time between Castanopsis and Castanea was determined to be 48.3 Mya and provided evidence that both genera experienced only one of the ancient whole genome triplication event (γ event) shared with most eudicots. The development of C. carlesii flower bracts and cupules was controlled by A- and E-class genes, suggesting that the cupules may originate from the bracts. Additionally, genes involved in sucrose and starch metabolism genes played distinct roles during C. carlesii fruit development. The amplification of the nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) gene family in Fagaceae exhibited similarities, indicating that this expansion may be an adaptation to similar environmental pressures. This study provides valuable genomic resources for Asian Fagaceae and enhances our understanding of Fagaceae evolution.
壳斗科包含900多个物种，是北半球森林生态系统的重要组成部分。然而，与经过充分研究的栎属相比，热带和亚热带属栲属和栗属的基因组数据仍然有限。在此，我们展示了栲树和锥栗的染色体水平基因组组装，组装后的基因组大小分别为927.24 Mb（N50 = 1.57 Mb）和780.10 Mb（N50 = 1.07 Mb），重复序列含量分别为45.79%和44.88%。比较基因组分析表明，栲属和栗属之间的估计分歧时间为4830万年前，并提供了证据表明这两个属仅经历了一次与大多数真双子叶植物共有的古老全基因组三倍化事件（γ事件）。栲树的花苞片和壳斗的发育受A类和E类基因控制，这表明壳斗可能起源于苞片。此外，参与蔗糖和淀粉代谢的基因在栲树果实发育过程中发挥了不同作用。壳斗科中核苷酸结合富含亮氨酸重复序列（NLR）基因家族的扩增表现出相似性，表明这种扩增可能是对相似环境压力的一种适应。本研究为亚洲壳斗科提供了宝贵的基因组资源，并增进了我们对壳斗科进化的理解。
