» General Description

The SMarTForests Project has released sequence data and a third assembly of the white spruce genome (Picea glauca).

» Project Leaders

» Objective

The objective is to "Develop a spruce genome resource by integrating outcomes of genome sequence analyses and high-density genetic mapping. Our work will benefit from recent advances in sequencing technologies and previously developed resources (gene catalogues, gene maps). The expected outcome is a more complete characterization of the gene space, as well as a draft of the white spruce genome sequence. The genetic map will help to position thousands of gene sequences and genome scaffolds onto chromosomes (linkage groups), and generate a novel genome resource that will enhance future marker aided selection."

» Methods Used For Assembly

An initial assembly of the white spruce genome sequence of an individual, diploid tree was based on shotgun sequencing of 21 libraries using the HiSeq2000 platform. The assembly was built using the ABySS software and sequence reads of 150 bp length for an estimated 63X genome coverage. The assembly contains 6 million contigs >500 bp. The assembled genome (15.2 Gb) is covered at 50% by contigs >4,234 bp (N50= 4,234 bp, largest contig = 78,855 bp).

» Publications

Birol, I. et al. (2013). Assembling the 20 Gb white spruce (Picea glauca) genome from whole-genome shotgun sequencing data. Bioinformatics. doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btt17.