Neurospora discreta strain FGSC 8579 was sequenced using PacBio long read sequencing to generate a high quality genome assembly

The fungus Neurospora discreta is closely related to the model species N. crassa. It has been the subject of population genomic analysis and comparative genomics. The N. discreta strain 8579 (ID number from the Fungal Genetics Stock Center/FGSC) has previously been sequenced using a Sanger based whole genome shotgun approach. This approach generated a comparatively complete genome, but it failed to assemble most chromosomes as complete contigs or scaffolds. Here we sequenced the same strain using the PacBio RSII platform and we managed to produce an assembly where all seven chromosomes were completely assembled, with the exception of the ribosomal region.