A chromosome-level genome assembly of the beavertail cactus, Opuntia basilaris

Few genomic resources currently exist for the American endemic family
Cactaceae, a group of around 1850 species, which are world-renowned for
their amazing growth forms and succulent habits. These icons of arid
landscapes across the Americas are threatened in many parts of their
range, including in parts of California, and developing more comprehensive
genomic data will aid efforts to better understand and preserve these
plants. We sequenced and assembled the genome of the beavertail cactus,
Opuntia basilaris, which is represented by three varieties in California,
one of which is threatened, and another endangered. The genome assembly
has a BUSCO complete score of 98.1%, and a total scaffold length of 980
Mb, with a scaffold N50 length of 83 Mb. The genome size of
diploid O. basilaris is markedly smaller than other diploid
members of Cactaceae that have been assembled to date. This is the first
nuclear genome sequenced in subfamily Opuntioideae and the most complete
nuclear genome for Cactaceae to date and will lay the foundation for
future genomic work across the biologically and taxonomically complicated
prickly pear cacti.