A telomere-to-telomere genome assembly of the threatened plant Rhododendron yuefengense.
The genus Rhododendron is a well-known group of ornamental plants, which includes many rare and endangered species. The work of protecting and saving these rare and endangered plants is increasingly gaining attention. Whole-genome sequencing offers possibilities for a deeper understanding of key issues in conservation biology and for conducting precise conservation efforts. The Rhododendron yuefengense, as a critically endangered endemic species with high ornamental value, is a priority for conservation. In this study, we utilized PacBio HiFi, ONT ultra-long, and Hi-C data to achieve nearly a T2T genome assembly of the R. yuefengense, making it the first species of the genus Rhododendron to be fully assembled. The genome size is 637.95 Mb, with an N50 of 50.16 Mb and only four gaps. All 637.95 Mb were anchored to 13 pseudochromosomes, with a BUSCO completeness of 98.27%. Repetitive sequences account for 53.67% of the assembly, 37.79% of which are LTR retrotransposons. We predicted 49,250 protein-coding genes and functionally annotated 42,646 of them. Comparative genomic analyses were also performed, providing a comprehensive reference for future studies.