Kousa dogwood's full genetic blueprint mapped for the first time
Mehler TPH, Boggess SL, Nowicki M, Hadziabdic D, Shoemaker D
Crop Improvement
If you've planted a Kousa dogwood because it shrugs off the pests and anthracnose that plague other dogwoods, this genome map gives breeders the blueprint to make future varieties even tougher and more varied in bloom and form.
Researchers fully sequenced the DNA of Kousa dogwood, a flowering tree known for resisting the diseases that often kill other dogwood species. They mapped out all 30,000-plus genes across its chromosomes with very high accuracy, which means breeders can now pinpoint exactly which genes control traits like disease resistance, flower shape, or growth habit. This kind of detailed map speeds up the slow process of breeding better garden trees.
Key Findings
First chromosome-scale diploid genome assembly for Cornus kousa, with two haplotypes sized 1602.7 Mb and 1598.9 Mb
High assembly quality confirmed by BUSCO completeness scores of 98.8% and 98.4%, with 98.97% of the genome anchored to chromosomes
30,799 and 31,044 genes annotated across the two haplotypes, providing a resource for studying disease tolerance and breeding traits
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists have decoded the complete genetic blueprint of Kousa dogwood, a disease-resistant flowering tree popular in American yards, giving breeders a detailed map to develop even hardier varieties.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
First chromosome-scale genome of Cornus kousa K2‡.
Kousa dogwood (Cornus kousa Hance) is a popular flowering ornamental tree in the United States, largely due to its pest and disease tolerance. Here, we present the first chromosome-scale, diploid g...
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Cornus kousa is a small deciduous tree in the flowering plant family Cornaceae. Common names include kousa, kousa dogwood, Chinese dogwood, Korean dogwood, and Japanese dogwood.