The Douglas-Fir Genome Sequence Reveals Specialization of the Photosynthetic Apparatus in Pinaceae. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • A reference genome sequence for Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco (Coastal Douglas-fir) is reported, thus providing a reference sequence for a third genus of the family Pinaceae. The contiguity and quality of the genome assembly far exceeds that of other conifer reference genome sequences (contig N50 = 44,136 bp and scaffold N50 = 340,704 bp). Incremental improvements in sequencing and assembly technologies are in part responsible for the higher quality reference genome, but it may also be due to a slightly lower exact repeat content in Douglas-fir vs. pine and spruce. Comparative genome annotation with angiosperm species reveals gene-family expansion and contraction in Douglas-fir and other conifers which may account for some of the major morphological and physiological differences between the two major plant groups. Notable differences in the size of the NDH-complex gene family and genes underlying the functional basis of shade tolerance/intolerance were observed. This reference genome sequence not only provides an important resource for Douglas-fir breeders and geneticists but also sheds additional light on the evolutionary processes that have led to the divergence of modern angiosperms from the more ancient gymnosperms.

published proceedings

  • G3 (Bethesda)

altmetric score

  • 10.1

author list (cited authors)

  • Neale, D. B., McGuire, P. E., Wheeler, N. C., Stevens, K. A., Crepeau, M. W., Cardeno, C., ... Wegrzyn, J. L.

citation count

  • 76

complete list of authors

  • Neale, David B||McGuire, Patrick E||Wheeler, Nicholas C||Stevens, Kristian A||Crepeau, Marc W||Cardeno, Charis||Zimin, Aleksey V||Puiu, Daniela||Pertea, Geo M||Sezen, U Uzay||Casola, Claudio||Koralewski, Tomasz E||Paul, Robin||Gonzalez-Ibeas, Daniel||Zaman, Sumaira||Cronn, Richard||Yandell, Mark||Holt, Carson||Langley, Charles H||Yorke, James A||Salzberg, Steven L||Wegrzyn, Jill L

publication date

  • September 2017