Chromosome-level genome assembly of the blackchin tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron)

The blackchin tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron) is an aquaculture species in Southeast Asia, recognized for its adaptability to diverse environmental conditions. Genomic resources for this species remain limited, hindering progress in genetic research and breeding programs. In this study, we generated a high-quality, chromosome-level genome assembly of blackchin tilapia by utilizing Illumina short reads, ONT long reads, Hi-C, and RNA sequencing data. The final assembly spans 1,027.41 Mb (scaffold N50 = 38.87 Mb), with 93.42% of the assembly anchored to 22 chromosomes. Genome completeness, assessed using BUSCO, reached 99.50%. We predicted 27,896 protein-coding genes, of which 90.87% were functionally annotated. Repetitive elements accounted for approximately 42.62% of the genome. This chromosome-scale genome assembly provides a reference for comparative genomic and genetic analyses of blackchin tilapia, supporting investigations into the genetic basis of salinity tolerance and traits relevant to aquaculture breeding.