Qin LY, Hu YH, Wang JP, Wang XL, Zhao R, Shan HY, Li KP, Xu P, Wu HY, Yan XQ, Liu LM, Yi X, Wanke S, Bowers JE, Leebens-Mack JH, DePamphilis CW, Soltis PS, Soltis DE, Kong HZ, Jiao YN*
PubYear : 2021
Volume :   Issue : 
Publication Name : Nature Plants
Page number : DOI: 10.1038/s41477-021-00990-2
Abstract : 

Aristolochia, a genus in the magnoliid order Piperales, has been famous for centuries for its highly specialized flowers and wide medicinal applications. Here, we present a new, high-quality genome sequence of Aristolochia fimbriata, a species that, similar to Amborella trichopoda, lacks further whole-genome duplications since the origin of extant angiosperms. As such, the A. fimbriata genome is an excellent reference for inferences of angiosperm genome evolution, enabling detection of two novel whole-genome duplications in Piperales and dating of previously reported whole-genome duplications in other magnoliids. Genomic comparisons between A. fimbriata and other angiosperms facilitated the identification of ancient genomic rearrangements suggesting the placement of magnoliids as sister to monocots, whereas phylogenetic inferences based on sequence data we compiled yielded ambiguous relationships. By identifying associated homologues and investigating their evolutionary histories and expression patterns, we revealed highly conserved floral developmental genes and their distinct downstream regulatory network that may contribute to the complex flower morphology in A. fimbriata. Finally, we elucidated the genetic basis underlying the biosynthesis of terpenoids and aristolochic acids in A. fimbriata.