Supporting data for "A new haplotype-resolved turkey genome to enable turkey genetics and genomics research"

The domesticated turkey (<i>Meleagris gallopavo</i>) is a species of significant agricultural importance and is the second largest contributor, behind broiler chickens, to world poultry meat production. The previous genome is of draft quality and partly based on the chicken (<i>Gallus gallus</i>) genome. A high-quality reference genome of Meleagris gallopavo is essential for turkey genomics and genetics research and the breeding industry. <br>By adopting the trio-binning approach, we were able to assemble a high-quality chromosome-level F1 assembly and two parental haplotype assemblies, leveraging long-read technologies and genome-wide chromatin interaction data (Hi-C). From a total of 40 chromosomes (2n=80), we capture 35 chromosomes in a single scaffold, and show much improved genome completeness and continuity compared to the old assembly build. The three assemblies are of higher quality than the previous draft quality assembly and comparable to the chicken assemblies (GRCg7) shown by the largest contig N50 (26.6 Mb) and comparable BUSCO gene set completeness scores (96-97%). Comparative analyses confirms a previously identified large inversion of around 19 Mbp on the Z chromosome not found in other Galliformes. Structural variation between the parent haplotypes were identified which pose potential new target genes for breeding. <br>We contribute a new high-quality turkey genome at chromosome-level, benefiting turkey genetics and other avian genomics research as well as turkey breeding industry.