Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-11-2021
Department
College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science
Abstract
Betula L. (birch) is a pioneer hardwood tree species with ecological, economic, and evolutionary importance in the Northern Hemisphere. We sequenced the Betula platyphylla genome and assembled the sequences into 14 chromosomes. The Betula genome lacks evidence of recent whole-genome duplication and has the same paleoploidy level as Vitis vinifera and Prunus mume. Phylogenetic analysis of lignin pathway genes coupled with tissue-specific expression patterns provided clues for understanding the formation of higher ratios of syringyl to guaiacyl lignin observed in Betula species. Our transcriptome analysis of leaf tissues under a time-series cold stress experiment revealed the presence of the MEKK1–MKK2–MPK4 cascade and six additional mitogen-activated protein kinases that can be linked to a gene regulatory network involving many transcription factors and cold tolerance genes. Our genomic and transcriptome analyses provide insight into the structures, features, and evolution of the B. platyphylla genome. The chromosome-level genome and gene resources of B. platyphylla obtained in this study will facilitate the identification of important and essential genes governing important traits of trees and genetic improvement of B. platyphylla.
Publication Title
Horticulture Research
Recommended Citation
Chen, S.,
Wang, Y.,
Yu, L.,
Zheng, T.,
Wang, S.,
Yue, Z.,
Kumari, S.,
Wei, H.,
&
et. al.
(2021).
Genome sequence and evolution of Betula platyphylla.
Horticulture Research,
8(37).
http://doi.org/10.1038/s41438-021-00481-7
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/14648
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Version
Publisher's PDF
Publisher's Statement
© 2021, The Author(s). Publisher’s version of record: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41438-021-00481-7