Plantago genome assembly, annotation and gene expression profiling

Plantago ovata is cultivated for mucilage production from its seed husk (psyllium). The mucilage has properties suitable for pharmaceutical industries, such as supplements for controlling blood cholesterol level and food industries for making gluten-free products. Limited success in improving mucilage quantity and quality has been reported due to the lack of a reference genome. This study aimed to construct the first chromosome-level Plantago ovata genome reference. This finding will significantly help a genetic improvement program for P. ovata.