High-quality draft genome assembly and functional annotation of Musa textilis cv. Inosa

Abaca (Musa textilis Née) is an important fiber crop cultivated primarily in the Philippines and valued for its exceptional fiber strength and industrial applications. Despite its economic importance, genomic resources for abaca remain limited, constraining efforts in molecular breeding and trait improvement. Here, we present a high-quality de novo genome assembly and functional annotation of M. textilis cv. Inosa, a commercially important cultivar known for superior fiber quality.

The genome was sequenced using PacBio HiFi technology and assembled de novo, followed by repeat annotation, gene prediction, functional characterization, and comparative genomic analyses with other Musa genomes. Orthology, synteny, and fiber-related gene analyses were performed to investigate genome evolution and identify genes associated with fiber development.

The assembled genome spans 612.5 Mb across 388 contigs, with a contig N50 of 9.02 Mb and a BUSCO completeness score of 98.9%, indicating high assembly quality and completeness. Functional annotation identified 37,403 high-confidence protein-coding genes. Repetitive elements account for 59.18% of the genome, representing one of the highest repeat contents reported among Musa genomes. Notably, Polinton transposons, a rarely reported transposable element class in Musa, were identified. Comparative genomic analyses revealed strong macrosyntenic conservation with other M. textilis assemblies and identified 226 Inosa-specific orthogroups. In addition, 348 proteins associated with fiber biosynthesis were annotated, including key enzymes and regulatory proteins involved in cellulose and lignin biosynthesis pathways.

This high-quality genome assembly expands the genomic resources available for abaca and provides insights into genome organization, repeat landscape, and fiber-related gene content. The genome will support comparative genomics, marker development, and breeding strategies aimed at improving fiber quality, disease resistance, and climate resilience in abaca.