Betula pendula var. carelica Assembly

Karelian birch (Betula pendula var. carelica) is a remarkable tree, highly prized for its unique wood grain, which has earned it the nickname "wooden marble." Unfortunately, Karelian birch is currently classified as a very rare species worldwide. Propagating curly birch is quite difficult, primarily because it is challenging to determine whether a young tree is Karelian or not; this distinctive characteristic typically becomes apparent only after 8 to 15 years. While it has been suggested that this pattern is controlled by a single gene, the specific gene responsible remains unidentified. A reference genome is essential for downstream studies of the candidate gene linked to the curly wood phenotype.