A complete reference genome of broomcorn millet

Area of Science:

• Plant genomics
• Crop science
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) is an ancient crop valued for drought resistance and adaptability.
• Its C4 photosynthetic pathway contributes to high efficiency.
• A complete genome sequence was lacking for detailed genetic studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generate a telomere-to-telomere (T2T) gap-free reference genome for broomcorn millet (AJ8).
• To provide a high-quality genomic resource for genetic research and crop improvement.

Main Methods:

• Utilized PacBio HiFi long reads and Oxford Nanopore sequencing.
• Employed high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) for scaffolding.
• Assembled the genome to chromosome-level resolution.

Main Results:

• The AJ8 genome was assembled to 834.7 Mb across 18 pseudo-chromosomes.
• Successfully identified 18 centromeres and 36 telomeres.
• Achieved high completeness (99.6% BUSCO), with 63,678 protein-coding genes and 52.0% repetitive sequences identified.

Conclusions:

• The T2T gap-free reference genome of broomcorn millet is now available.
• This resource will facilitate genetic studies and breeding programs for this important cereal crop.