Vaccinium floribundum Genome sequencing

Vaccinium floribundum Kunth, commonly known as "mortino," is a native shrub species that inhabits the highlands of several South American countries. This emblematic plant species plays a crucial role in restoring ecosystems and holds significant value in the food industry and nutraceutical products due to its phytochemical nutrients. Previous studies have offered insights into the genetic diversity of mortino, shedding light on its population structure and adaptations to unique harsh-altitude environments. However, a comprehensive understanding of this species at the genomic level is lacking. In this study, we sequenced and assembled this species to establish a first reference genome. Oxford Nanopore and Illumina technologies were used for sequencing, resulting in good-quality data with high coverage. Three different de novo genome assemblies were generated and compared for quality, continuity, and completeness. The Flye assembly was selected as the best and thoroughly refined by filtering out short ONT reads, screening for contaminants, and performing genome scaffolding. The final obtained assembly has a genome size of 529 MB, containing 1319 contigs. This assembly has a LAI score of 12.93, categorizing it as a reference genome. BUSCO analysis indicate a high level of completeness (95.8% complete) in the assembly. Additionally, read coverage was assessed across the genome and we found even distribution and suitability for downstream analyses. Our V. floribundum reference genome provides a valuable resource for further research, enabling a deeper understanding of the species at the molecular level. It holds promise for uncovering the genetic mechanisms responsible for the species' unique traits and adaptations, as well as its ecological functions. The reference genome will support conservation efforts and contribute to the development of strategies to promote adaptability in changing environments.