Reference Publication(s)

Mascher M, Wicker T, Jenkins J, Plott C, Lux T, Koh CS, Ens J, Gundlach H, Boston LB, Tulpová Z, Holden S, Hernández-Pinzón I, Scholz U, Mayer KFX, Spannagl M, Pozniak CJ, Sharpe AG, Šimková H, Moscou MJ, Grimwood J, Schmutz J, Stein N. Long-read sequence assembly: a technical evaluation in barley. Plant Cell. 2021 Jul 19;33(6):1888-1906. doi: 10.1093/plcell/koab077.

Abstract

Sequence assembly of large and repeat-rich plant genomes has been challenging, requiring substantial computational resources and often several complementary sequence assembly and genome mapping approaches. The recent development of fast and accurate long-read sequencing by circular consensus sequencing (CCS) on the PacBio platform may greatly increase the scope of plant pan-genome projects. Here, we compare current long-read sequencing platforms regarding their ability to rapidly generate contiguous sequence assemblies in pan-genome studies of barley (Hordeum vulgare). Most long-read assemblies are clearly superior to the current barley reference sequence based on short-reads. Assemblies derived from accurate long reads excel in most metrics, but the CCS approach was the most cost-effective strategy for assembling tens of barley genomes. A downsampling analysis indicated that 20-fold CCS coverage can yield very good sequence assemblies, while even five-fold CCS data may capture the complete sequence of most genes. We present an updated reference genome assembly for barley with near-complete representation of the repeat-rich intergenic space. Long-read assembly can underpin the construction of accurate and complete sequences of multiple genomes of a species to build pan-genome infrastructures in Triticeae crops and their wild relatives.

Assembly statistics