bioRxiv · 2026-05-16
Scientists sequenced the full genome of stinging nettle, revealing the genes responsible for producing flavonoids and anthocyanins — the compounds behind the plant's medicinal properties and its reddening response to stress.
The assembled stinging nettle genome spans 1.1 billion base pairs with a high-quality N50 scaffold length of 40.7 Mbp, indicating a highly continuous assembly.
Genes responsible for flavonoid and anthocyanin biosynthesis were identified, linking them to the plant's visible stress response — reddening of leaves under high light or nitrogen deprivation.
RNA sequencing data was combined with cross-species gene hints to produce a comprehensive protein-coding gene annotation, enabling future study of medically relevant compounds.