#22 · Genomics

Chromosome-scale and pangenome references reveal plant genome structure and adaptation

The dominant thread is genome-scale inference anchored on chromosome-scale or pangenome reference frameworks. The table beet study pairs a 668.6 Mbp chromosome-scale assembly (N50 72 Mbp) with an EM-seq methylome and terpene synthase candidates for geosmin biosynthesis. The peanut study builds a graph pan-genome from 14 genotypes to characterize structural variants and homoeologous exchanges across 2,320 accessions. The East Asian tree study integrates pangenomics with population genomics to address climate adaptation and maladaptation in a keystone forest species. The shared approach is reference-level resolution of genomic variation, but the studies address distinct questions rather than a single mechanism. What is new is the application of this framework across biosynthetic, breeding, and ecological adaptation contexts.