Ilex latifolia Thunb. is a subtropical evergreen tree native to China and Japan. In addition to its ornamental functions, the tender leaves of this plant can be processed into a specific kind of tea known as Kudingcha. Kudingcha is known as a very healthy drink and is a traditional Chinese medicine with a long history in southern China because the young leaves of I. latifolia contain pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins and flavonoids, which have blood lipid- and blood pressure-lowering, detoxification and cancer-combating effects. Recently, we sequenced, assembled, and annotated the genome of I. latifolia (Figure 1). In addition, we identified candidate genes associated with some important active ingredients of Kudingcha and the ornamental traits of the genus.
Finally, the 99.8% genome sequence of I. latifolia was anchored to 20 pseudochromosomes, with a total length of 766.02 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 33.45 Mb. Two CYP716A genes and one CYP72A gene probably play important roles in this biosynthetic pathway. In addition, 12 genes were identified in the biosynthesis pathways of pelargonidin and cyanidin and observed their differential expression in green and red fruit pericarps of I. latifolia, suggesting an association between pelargonidin and cyanidin biosynthesis and fruit pericarp color change.
Figure 1. Ilex latifolia and its genome features across 20 chromosomes
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