The tobacco genome sequence and its comparison with those of tomato and potato

TLDR

Nicotiana tabacum is a major crop and model organism, yet its genome has been available only in fragmented form. The study reports high‑quality draft genomes for three main tobacco varieties. The authors assembled these genomes, identified over 90,000 gene models, and traced the ancestral origins of tobacco mosaic virus and potyvirus resistance. The genomes show low divergence from ancestors, microsynteny with other Solanaceae, and are expected to enhance N.

Abstract

Abstract The allotetraploid plant Nicotiana tabacum (common tobacco) is a major crop species and a model organism, for which only very fragmented genomic sequences are currently available. Here we report high-quality draft genomes for three main tobacco varieties. These genomes show both the low divergence of tobacco from its ancestors and microsynteny with other Solanaceae species. We identify over 90,000 gene models and determine the ancestral origin of tobacco mosaic virus and potyvirus disease resistance in tobacco. We anticipate that the draft genomes will strengthen the use of N. tabacum as a versatile model organism for functional genomics and biotechnology applications.