Five novel reference genomes of fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae) of agricultural importance in Africa. Tephritidae

Understanding the genetic composition of economically significant species is essential for the development of successful pest management strategies in the field of agricultural research. Fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae) impose a significant threat to agricultural productivity, particularly in Africa, where they cause substantial damage to fruit and vegetable crops. To gain comprehensive insights into the genetic diversity and evolutionary patterns of these pests, we present five novel reference genomes from fruit flies (Ceratitis capitata, C. quilicii, C. rosa, Bactrocera zonata and Zeugodacus cucurbitae) of agricultural importance in Africa. An inbred lab colony of each of the tephritid species was established in an artificial setting of which larvae were collected for subsequent sequencing. De novo assemblies were constructed by Dovetail (Omni-C) using PacBio CCS reads resulting in a 80x coverage of the tephritid genomes. The genome assemblies of C. capitata, C. quilicii and Z. cucurbitae include annotations. Our research provides a foundation for unraveling the complex biology and adaptive mechanisms of these fruit flies, aiding in the development of targeted control measures and sustainable agricultural practices.