A high-quality carrot genome assembly provides new insights into carotenoid accumulation and asterid genome evolution

We report a high-quality chromosome-scale assembly and analysis of the carrot (Daucus carota) genome, the first sequenced genome to include a comparative evolutionary analysis among members of the euasterid II clade. We characterized two new polyploidization events, both occurring after the divergence of carrot from members of the Asterales order, clarifying the evolutionary scenario before and after radiation of the two main asterid clades. Large- and small-scale lineage-specific duplications have contributed to the expansion of gene families, including those with roles in flowering time, defense response, flavor, and pigment accumulation. We identified a candidate gene, DCAR_032551, that conditions carotenoid accumulation (Y) in carrot taproot and is coexpressed with several isoprenoid biosynthetic genes. The primary mechanism regulating carotenoid accumulation in carrot taproot is not at the biosynthetic level. We hypothesize that DCAR_032551 regulates upstream photosystem development and functional processes, including photomorphogenesis and root de-etiolation.EEA La ConsultaFil: Iorizzo, Massimo. University of Wisconsin. Department of Horticulture; Estados Unidos. North Carolina State University. Plants for Human Health Institute, Department of Horticultural Science; Estados UnidosFil: Ellison, Shelby L. University of Wisconsin. Department of Horticulture; Estados UnidosFil: Senalik, Douglas A. University of Wisconsin. Department of Horticulture; Estados Unidos. United States Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service. Vegetable Crops Research Unit; Estados UnidosFil: Peng, Zeng. Beijing Genomics Institute–Shenzhen; ChinaFil: Satapoomin, Pimchanok. University of Wisconsin. Department of Horticulture; Estados UnidosFil: Jiaying, Huang. Beijing Genomics Institute–Shenzhen; ChinaFil: Bowman, Megan. Michigan State University. Department of Plant Biology; Estados UnidosFil: Iovene, Marina. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche. Istituto di Bioscienze e Biorisorse; ItaliaFil: Sanseverino, Walter. Sequentia Biotech; EspañaFil: Cavagnaro, Pablo Federico. . Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria La Consulta; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Yildiz, Mehtap. Yuzuncu Yil University. Faculty of Agriculture. Department of Agricultural Biotechnology; TurquíaFil: Macko-Podgórni, Alicja. University of Agriculture in Krakow. Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology; PoloniaFil: Moranska, Emilia. University of Agriculture in Krakow. Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology; PoloniaFil: Grzebelus, Ewa. University of Agriculture in Krakow. Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology; PoloniaFil: Grzebelus, Dariusz. University of Agriculture in Krakow. Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology; PoloniaFil: Ashrafi, Hamid. University of California. Seed Biotechnology Center; Estados Unidos. North Carolina State University. Plants for Human Health Institute, Department of Horticultural Science; Estados UnidosFil: Zhijun, Zheng. Beijing Genomics Institute–Shenzhen; ChinaFil: Shifeng, Cheng. Beijing Genomics Institute–Shenzhen; ChinaFil: Spooner, David M. University of Wisconsin. Department of Horticulture; Estados Unidos. United States Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service. Vegetable Crops Research Unit; Estados UnidosFil: Deynze, Allen Van. University of California. Seed Biotechnology Center; Estados UnidosFil: Simon, Philipp W. University of Wisconsin. Department of Horticulture; Estados Unidos. United States Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service. Vegetable Crops Research Unit; Estados Unido