An integrated reference genome of G. hirsutum acc. TM-1

The multiple assemblies released for the genetic standard TM-1 have made it difficult for cotton biology researchers to choose a reference genome. Here, we report a unified, high-quality, single genome assembly for TM-1 using PacBio long reads and integrating all five published TM-1 genomes. The updated genome shows considerable improvements in completeness, gene annotation, and gap closing. The integrated assemblies were further annotated and the one-to-one correspondence of protein coding genes identified. This new reference genome thus provides a valuable resource for genomic-based studies in cotton.