High-quality de novo assembly of the apple genome and methylome dynamics of early fruit development

Using the latest sequencing and optical mapping technologies, we have produced a high-quality de novo assembly of the apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) genome. Repeat sequences, which represented over half of the assembly, provided an unprecedented opportunity to investigate the uncharacterized regions of a tree genome; we identified a new hyper-repetitive retrotransposon sequence that was over-represented in heterochromatic regions and estimated that a major burst of different transposable elements (TEs) occurred 21 million years ago. Notably, the timing of this TE burst coincided with the uplift of the Tian Shan mountains, which is thought to be the center of the location where the apple originated, suggesting that TEs and associated processes may have contributed to the diversification of the apple ancestor and possibly to its divergence from pear. Finally, genome-wide DNA methylation data suggest that epigenetic marks may contribute to agronomically relevant aspects, such as apple fruit development

A high-quality sequence of Rosa chinensis to elucidate genome structure and ornamental traits

Rose is the worlds most important ornamental plant with economic, cultural and symbolic value. Roses are cultivated worldwide and sold as garden roses, cut flowers and potted plants. Rose has a complex genome with high heterozygosity and various ploidy levels. Our objectives were (i) to develop the first high-quality reference genome sequence for the genus Rosa by sequencing a doubled haploid, combining long and short read sequencing, and anchoring to a high-density genetic map and (ii) to study the genome structure and the genetic basis of major ornamental traits. We produced a haploid rose line from R. chinensis "Old Blush" and generated the first rose genome sequence at the pseudo-molecule scale (512 Mbp with N50 of 3.4 Mb and L75 of 97). The sequence was validated using high-density diploid and tetraploid genetic maps. We delineated hallmark chromosomal features including the pericentromeric regions through annotation of TE families and positioned centromeric repeats using FISH. Genetic diversity was analysed by resequencing eight Rosa species. Combining genetic and genomic approaches, we identified potential genetic regulators of key ornamental traits, including prickle density and number of flower petals. A rose APETALA2 homologue is proposed to be the major regulator of petals number in rose. This reference sequence is an important resource for studying polyploidisation, meiosis and developmental processes as we demonstrated for flower and prickle development. This reference sequence will also accelerate breeding through the development of molecular markers linked to traits, the identification of the genes underlying them and the exploitation of synteny across Rosaceae

The sequence of rice chromosomes 11 and 12, rich in disease resistance genes and recent gene duplications

Background: Rice is an important staple food and, with the smallest cereal genome, serves as a reference species for studies on the evolution of cereals and other grasses. Therefore, decoding its entire genome will be a prerequisite for applied and basic research on this species and all other cereals. Results: We have determined and analyzed the complete sequences of two of its chromosomes, 11 and 12, which total 55.9 Mb (14.3% of the entire genome length), based on a set of overlapping clones. A total of 5,993 non-transposable element related genes are present on these chromosomes. Among them are 289 disease resistance-like and 28 defense-response genes, a higher proportion of these categories than on any other rice chromosome. A three-Mb segment on both chromosomes resulted from a duplication 7.7 million years ago (mya), the most recent large-scale duplication in the rice genome. Paralogous gene copies within this segmental duplication can be aligned with genomic assemblies from sorghum and maize. Although these gene copies are preserved on both chromosomes, their expression patterns have diverged. When the gene order of rice chromosomes 11 and 12 was compared to wheat gene loci, significant synteny between these orthologous regions was detected, illustrating the presence of conserved genes alternating with recently evolved genes. Conclusion: Because the resistance and defense response genes, enriched on these chromosomes relative to the whole genome, also occur in clusters, they provide a preferred target for breeding durable disease resistance in rice and the isolation of their allelic variants. The recent duplication of a large chromosomal segment coupled with the high density of disease resistance gene clusters makes this the most recently evolved part of the rice genome. Based on syntenic alignments of these chromosomes, rice chromosome 11 and 12 do not appear to have resulted from a single whole-genome duplication event as previously suggested

The Rosa genome provides new insights into the domestication of modern roses

Roses have high cultural and economic importance as ornamental plants and in the perfume industry. We report the rose whole-genome sequencing and assembly and resequencing of major genotypes that contributed to rose domestication. We generated a homozygous genotype from a heterozygous diploid modern rose progenitor, Rosa chinensis ‘Old Blush’. Using single-molecule real-time sequencing and a meta-assembly approach, we obtained one of the most comprehensive plant genomes to date. Diversity analyses highlighted the mosaic origin of ‘La France’, one of the first hybrids combining the growth vigor of European species and the recurrent blooming of Chinese species. Genomic segments of Chinese ancestry identified new candidate genes for recurrent blooming. Reconstructing regulatory and secondary metabolism pathways allowed us to propose a model of interconnected regulation of scent and flower color. This genome provides a foundation for understanding the mechanisms governing rose traits and should accelerate improvement in roses, Rosaceae and ornamentals

Le séquençage de génomes de plantes

27 ref. chap. 2National audienc

The Apple Genome and Methylome : New Gene Regulatory Roles for DNA Methylation?

Accurate sequence information and genome assemblies are critical for studies on genomic and epigenomic variations. Although partial genome information was already available for apple (Velasco et al. 2010), the assembled sequence is fragmented and lacks repeated regions. First, using second- (Illumina) and third-generation sequencing and optical mapping technologies (PacBio and BioNano), we have generated a high quality genome assembly of a 'Golden Delicious' doubled haploid tree (Daccord, Celton et al. 2017). Our de novo assembly resulted in a genome of 649.7 Mb, with a N50 of 5.6 Mb. Seventeen pseudo-chromosomes were constructed and validated using a high density integrated genetic linkage map (Di Pierro, E. A. et al. 2016) and linkage disequilibrium analysis. Using similarities, transcript resources and the EuGene predictor/combiner (Foissac et al. 2008), 45,115 protein coding genes were predicted and tagged, when possible, by putative function. In a second time, to understand the potential role of epigenetic marks on fruit development, we constructed genome-wide DNA methylation maps that compared different tissues and two isogenic apple lines that produce large or small fruits. We established general correlations between methylation patterns in promoters and gene expression. Moreover, this led to the identification of differentially methylated regions that may be associated with genes involved in fruit development

High-quality de novo assembly of the apple genome and methylome dynamics of early fruit development

Using the latest sequencing and optical mapping technologies, we have produced a high-quality de novo assembly of the apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) genome. Repeat sequences, which represented over half of the assembly, provided an unprecedented opportunity to investigate the uncharacterized regions of a tree genome; we identified a new hyper-repetitive retrotransposon sequence that was over-represented in heterochromatic regions and estimated that a major burst of different transposable elements (TEs) occurred 21 million years ago. Notably, the timing of this TE burst coincided with the uplift of the Tian Shan mountains, which is thought to be the center of the location where the apple originated, suggesting that TEs and associated processes may have contributed to the diversification of the apple ancestor and possibly to its divergence from pear. Finally, genome-wide DNA methylation data suggest that epigenetic marks may contribute to agronomically relevant aspects, such as apple fruit development

A high-quality genome sequence of Rosa chinensis to elucidate ornamental traits

International audienceRose is the queen of flowers, holding great symbolic and cultural value. Roses appeared as decoration on 5,000-year-old Asian pottery 1 , and Romans cultivated roses for their flowers and essential oil 2. Today, no ornamental plants have greater economic importance than roses. They are cultivated worldwide and are sold as garden plants, in pots or as cut flowers, the latter accounting for approximately 30% of the market. Roses are also used for scent production and for culinary purposes 3. Despite their genetic complexity and lack of biotechnological resources, rose represents a model for ornamental plant species, allowing the investigation of traits such as bloom seasonality or flower morphology. Furthermore, rose displays a range of unique features as a result of its complex evolutionary and breeding history , including interspecific hybridization events and polyploidi-zation 4-6. Roses belong to the genus Rosa (Rosoideae, Rosaceae), which contains more than 150 species 7 of varying ploidy levels, ranging from 2n = 2× to 10× 8,9. Many modern roses are tetra-ploid and can be genetically classified as 'segmental' allopolyploids (a mixture between allopolyploidy and autopolyploidy) 10 , whereas dog-roses display unequal meiosis to maintain pentaploidy 11,12. Rose breeding has a long and generally unresolved history in Europe and Asia, most likely involving several interspecific hybridization events. Importantly, many very-old varieties are still maintained in private and public rose gardens and are a living historical archive of rose breeding and selection 13. Large and well-documented her-barium collections, combined with genomic advances, offer excellent opportunities to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships within the species. Roses have been subject to selection for several traits that are not usually encountered in other crops. In particular, aesthetic criteria have been a principal focus of rose breeding over the past 250 years, next to plant vigour and resistances to biotic and abiotic stresses. Among the aesthetic traits, flower colour and architecture (from 5-petalled 'simple' flowers to 100-petalled 'double' flowers), floral scent and prickle formation on the stem and leaves have been the main targets of the breeders' eyes (and noses). Although these traits can be interpreted as signs of the domestication process, they originally evolved through adaptation to natural conditions. Rose is the world's most important ornamental plant, with economic, cultural and symbolic value. Roses are cultivated worldwide and sold as garden roses, cut flowers and potted plants. Roses are outbred and can have various ploidy levels. Our objectives were to develop a high-quality reference genome sequence for the genus Rosa by sequencing a doubled haploid, combining long and short reads, and anchoring to a high-density genetic map, and to study the genome structure and genetic basis of major ornamental traits. We produced a doubled haploid rose line ('HapOB') from Rosa chinensis 'Old Blush' and generated a rose genome assembly anchored to seven pseudo-chromosomes (512 Mb with N50 of 3.4 Mb and 564 contigs). The length of 512 Mb represents 90.1-96.1% of the estimated haploid genome size of rose. Of the assembly, 95% is contained in only 196 contigs. The anchoring was validated using high-density diploid and tetraploid genetic maps. We delineated hallmark chromosomal features, including the pericentromeric regions, through annotation of transposable element families and positioned centromeric repeats using fluorescent in situ hybridization. The rose genome displays extensive synteny with the Fragaria vesca genome, and we delineated only two major rearrangements. Genetic diversity was analysed using resequenc-ing data of seven diploid and one tetraploid Rosa species selected from various sections of the genus. Combining genetic and genomic approaches, we identified potential genetic regulators of key ornamental traits, including prickle density and the number of flower petals. A rose APETALA2/TOE homologue is proposed to be the major regulator of petal number in rose. This reference sequence is an important resource for studying polyploidization, meiosis and developmental processes, as we demonstrated for flower and prickle development. It will also accelerate breeding through the development of molecular markers linked to traits, the identification of the genes underlying them and the exploitation of synteny across Rosaceae. NATuRE PLANTS | www.nature.com/natureplant

The Biomechanics Research and Innovation Challenge: Development, Implementation, Uptake, and Reflections on the Inaugural Program

Biomechanics as a discipline is ideally placed to increase awareness and participation of girls and women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. A nationwide Biomechanics and Research Innovation Challenge (BRInC) centered on mentoring and role modeling was developed to engage high school girls (mentees) and early-mid-career women (mentors) in the field of biomechanics through the completion of a 100-day research and/or innovation project. This manuscript describes the development, implementation, and uptake of the inaugural BRInC program and synthesizes the research and innovation projects undertaken, providing a framework for adoption of this program within the global biomechanics community. Eighty-seven high school girls in years 9 and 10 (age range: 14–16 y) were mentored in teams (n = 17) by women in biomechanics (n = 24). Using a design thinking approach, teams generated solutions to biomechanics-based problem(s)/research question(s). Eight key reflections on program strengths, as well as areas for improvement and planned changes for future iterations of the BRInC program, are outlined. These key reflections highlight the innovation, impact, and scalability of the program; the importance of a program framework and effective communication tools; and implementation of strategies to sustain the program as well as the importance of diversity and building a sense of community.</p