Genome evolution of the psammophyte Pugionium for desert adaptation and further speciation.

Deserts exert strong selection pressures on plants, but the underlying genomic drivers of ecological adaptation and subsequent speciation remain largely unknown. Here, we generated de novo genome assemblies and conducted population genomic analyses of the psammophytic genus Pugionium (Brassicaceae). Our results indicated that this bispecific genus had undergone an allopolyploid event, and the two parental genomes were derived from two ancestral lineages with different chromosome numbers and structures. The postpolyploid expansion of gene families related to abiotic stress responses and lignin biosynthesis facilitated environmental adaptations of the genus to desert habitats. Population genomic analyses of both species further revealed their recent divergence with continuous gene flow, and the most divergent regions were found to be centered on three highly structurally reshuffled chromosomes. Genes under selection in these regions, which were mainly located in one of the two subgenomes, contributed greatly to the interspecific divergence in microhabitat adaptation.

The chromosome-level genome sequence and karyotypic evolution of Megadenia pygmaea (Brassicaceae).

Karyotypic changes in chromosome number and structure are drivers in the divergent evolution of diverse plant species and lineages. This study aimed to reveal the origins of the unique karyotype (2n = 12) and phylogenetic relationships of the genus Megadenia (Brassicaceae). A high-quality chromosome-scale genome was assembled for Megadenia pygmaea using Nanopore long reads and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C). The assembled genome is 215.2 Mb and is anchored on six pseudochromosomes. We annotated a total of 25,607 high-confidence protein-coding genes and corroborated the phylogenetic affinity of Megadenia with the Brassicaceae expanded lineage II, containing numerous agricultural crops. We dated the divergence of Megadenia from its closest relatives to 27.04 (19.11-36.60) million years ago. A reconstruction of the chromosomal composition of the species was performed based on the de novo assembled genome and comparative chromosome painting analysis. The karyotype structure of M. pygmaea is very similar to the previously inferred proto-Calepineae karyotype (PCK; n = 7) of the lineage II. However, an end-to-end translocation between two ancestral chromosomes reduced the chromosome number from n = 7 to n = 6 in Megadenia. Our reference genome provides fundamental information for karyotypic evolution and evolutionary study of this genus.

The Genome Sequence of Alpine Megacarpaea delavayi Identifies Species-Specific Whole-Genome Duplication.

Megacarpaea delavayi (Brassicaceae), a plant found the high mountains of southwest China at high altitudes (3000-4800 m), is used as a vegetable or medicine. Here, we report a draft genome for this species. The assembly genome of M. delavayi is 883 Mb, and 61.59% of the genome is composed of repeat sequences. Annotation of the genome identified a total of 41,114 protein-coding genes. We found that M. delavayi experienced an independent whole-genome duplication (WGD), paralleling those independent WGDs in Iberis, Biscutella, and Anastatica in the early Miocene. Phylogenetic analyses based on the single-copy genes confirmed the position of the genus Megacarpaea within the expanded lineage II of the family and resolved its basal divergence to a subclade consisting of Anastatica, Iberis, and Biscutella. Species-specific and fast-evolving genes in M. delavayi are mainly involved in "DNA repair" and "response to UV-B radiation." These genetic changes may together help this species survive in high-altitude environments. The reference genome reported here provides a valuable resource for studying adaptation of this and other alpine plants to the high-altitude habitats.

A chromosome-scale reference genome of Lobularia maritima, an ornamental plant with high stress tolerance.

Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv. is an ornamental plant cultivated across the world. It belongs to the family Brassicaceae and can tolerate dry, poor and contaminated habitats. Here, we present a chromosome-scale, high-quality genome assembly of L. maritima based on integrated approaches combining Illumina short reads and Hi-C chromosome conformation data. The genome was assembled into 12 pseudochromosomes with a 197.70 Mb length, and it includes 25,813 protein-coding genes. Approximately 41.94% of the genome consists of repetitive sequences, with abundant long terminal repeat transposable elements. Comparative genomic analysis confirmed that L. maritima underwent a species-specific whole-genome duplication (WGD) event ~22.99 million years ago. We identified ~1900 species-specific genes, 25 expanded gene families, and 50 positively selected genes in L. maritima. Functional annotations of these genes indicated that they are mainly related to stress tolerance. These results provide new insights into the stress tolerance of L. maritima, and this genomic resource will be valuable for further genetic improvement of this important ornamental plant.