Year: 2023
Type: preprint
Abstract: Genomics-informed breeding of locally adapted, nutritious, albeit underutilised African crops can help mitigate food and nutrition insecurity challenges in Africa, particularly against the backdrop of climate change. However, utilisation of modern crop improvement tools including genomic selection and genome editing for many African indigenous crops is hampered by the scarcity of genetic and genomic resources. Here we report on the assembly of the genome of African yam bean ( Sphenostylis stenocarpa) , a tuberous legume crop that is indigenous to Africa. By combining long and short read sequencing with Hi-C scaffolding, we produced a chromosome-scale assembly with an N50 of 69.5 Mbp and totalling 649 Mbp in length (77 - 81% of the estimated genome size based on flow cytometry). Using transcriptome evidence from Nanopore RNA-Seq and homology evidence from related crops, we annotated 31,614 putative protein coding genes. We further show how this resource improves anchoring of markers, genome-wide association analysis and candidate gene analyses in Africa yam bean. This genome assembly provides a valuable resource for genetic research in Africa yam bean.
Authors: Bernice Waweru, Isaac Njaci, Edwin Murungi, Rajneesh Paliwal, Collins Mulli, Mary Maranga, Davies Kaimenyi, Beatus Lyimo, Helen Nigussie, Bwihangane Birindwa Ahadi, Ermias Assefa, Hassan Ishag, Oluwaseyi Olomitutu, Michael Abberton, Christopher Darby, Cristobal Uauy, Nasser Yao, Daniel Adewale, Peter Emmrich, Jean-Baka Domelevo Entfellner, Oluwaseyi Shorinola
Institutions: John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, International Livestock Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Kisii University, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Jagiellonian University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Pwani University, Hochschule Geisenheim University, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Addis Ababa University, Université Officielle de Bukavu, Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bio and Emerging Technology Institute, University of Nyala, Federal University Oye Ekiti, University of Birmingham
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4388127013