YamOmics: a comprehensive data resource on yam multi-omics

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Genomics
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Yams (Dioscorea spp.) are vital staple foods and medicinal herbs, crucial for global food security and economies.
• Advancing yam research and breeding relies on diverse omics data, but current data are fragmented and disorganized.
• A centralized, comprehensive data management system is essential for efficient yam research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a centralized and comprehensive database for diverse omics data in yams.
• To facilitate yam basic biology and breeding research through integrated data and user-friendly tools.

Main Methods:

• Collected and integrated extensive genomic, transcriptomic, and plastomic data from 41 yam species.
• Compiled detailed genomic variant records from 935 germplasms and gene expression profiles from 191 samples.
• Developed the Yam Omics Database (YamOmics) with comprehensive annotations and online analytical tools.

Main Results:

• YamOmics provides a vast repository of diverse omics data for 41 yam species.
• The database includes detailed genomic variants for 935 germplasms and expression data for 191 samples.
• Integrated annotations cover genome synteny, orthologs, pathways, gene families, and protein interactions.

Conclusions:

• YamOmics serves as a valuable, centralized resource for yam (Dioscorea spp.) research and breeding.
• The database empowers researchers with integrated omics data and analytical tools to advance yam science.
• This resource supports efforts to enhance yam's role in food security and economic development.