Next generation sequencing to investigate genomic diversity in Caryophyllales - Kewa caespitosa

Caryophyllales are a highly diverse and large order of plants with a global distribution. While some species are important crops like Beta vulgaris, many others can survive under extreme conditions. This order is well known for the complex pigment evolution, because the pigments anthocyanins and betalains occur with mutual exclusion in species of the Caryophyllales. Here we report about genome assemblies of Kewa caespitosa (Kewaceae), Macarthuria australis (Macarthuriaceae), and Pharnaceum exiguum (Molluginaceae) which are representing different taxonomic groups in the Caryophyllales. The availability of these assemblies enhances molecular investigation of these species e.g. with respect to certain genes of interest.石竹目（Caryophyllales）是一个物种多样性极高、分布范围遍及全球的大型植物目。该目中部分物种为重要经济作物，例如甜菜（Beta vulgaris），而多数类群可在极端环境中存活。该目因复杂的色素演化机制而广受关注：其物种体内的花青素（anthocyanins）与甜菜红素（betalains）呈现互斥分布的特征。本研究报道了石竹目下三个代表不同分类群的物种的基因组组装（genome assemblies）数据，分别为垫状克瓦草（Kewa caespitosa，克瓦草科Kewaceae）、澳大利亚麦克阿瑟草（Macarthuria australis，麦克阿瑟草科Macarthuriaceae）以及小巧粟米草（Pharnaceum exiguum，粟米草科Molluginaceae）。上述基因组组装数据的公开，将有力推动针对这些物种的分子生物学研究，例如针对特定目标基因的相关探究。