A chromosome-level genome assembly of the Brontispa longissima.

ABSTRACT

Brontispa longissima is a highly destructive pest that affects coconut and ornamental palm plants. It is widely distributed across Southeast and East Asia and the Pacific region, causing production losses of up to 50-70%. While control methods and ecological phenomena have been the primary focus of research, there is a significant lack of studies on the molecular mechanisms underlying these ecological phenomena. The absence of a reference genome has also hindered the development of new molecular-targeted control technologies. In this study, we conducted a karyotype analysis of B. longissima and assembled the first high-quality chromosome-level genome. The assembled genome is 582.24 Mb in size, with a scaffold N50 size of 63.81 Mb, consisting of 10 chromosomes and a GC content of 33.71%. The BUSCO assessment indicated a completeness estimate of 98.1%. A total of 23,051 protein-coding genes were predicted. Our study provides a valuable genomic resource for understanding the mechanisms of adaptive evolution and facilitates the development of new molecular-targeted control methods for B. longissima.