Orange cup coral (Tubastraea coccinea) genome

Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse and economically significant ecosystems worldwide, yet they are rapidly degrading due to global climate change and local human activities. The sun coral Tubastraea coccinea are obligate heterotroph, which lack the symbiotic algae known as zooxanthellae. With the ability to tolerate conditions that produce bleaching and mortality in zooxanthellate species, T. coccinea were widespread, low-latitude distribution in multiple oceans. As highly invasive species, T.coccinea have been reported to establish and spread in ways that negatively affect native species, harm the local environment and cause social impacts that require management actions. Despite concentrated efforts to comprehend the biology of these organisms, they remain insufficiently explored at the molecular level. To comprehend its genetic structure, facilitate future conservation efforts, and manage and control this invasive species, we generated a draft genome assembly of T. coccinea using PacBio Hi-Fi long reads. The resulting assembly has a total size of 875.9 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 694.3 kb. Additionally, BUSCO analysis produced a completeness score of 97.4%. A total of 37,307 protein-coding sequences were identified, with 95.2% functionally annotated through comparisons with established protein databases. This reference genome serves as an important resource for comprehensive investigations into the adaptive strategies of corals in response to environmental changes.