BMC Genomics 2013-01-01

Draft genome sequence of the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis.

Ahmad Yamin Abdul Rahman, Abhilash O Usharraj, Biswapriya B Misra, Gincy P Thottathil, Kandakumar Jayasekaran, Yun Feng, Shaobin Hou, Su Yean Ong, Fui Ling Ng, Ling Sze Lee, Hock Siew Tan, Muhd Khairul Luqman Muhd Sakaff, Beng Soon Teh, Bee Feong Khoo, Siti Suriawati Badai, Nurohaida Ab Aziz, Anton Yuryev, Bjarne Knudsen, Alexandre Dionne-Laporte, Nokuthula P Mchunu, Qingyi Yu, Brennick J Langston, Tracey Allen K Freitas, Aaron G Young, Rui Chen, Lei Wang, Nazalan Najimudin, Jennifer A Saito, Maqsudul Alam

Index: BMC Genomics 14 , 75, (2013)

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Abstract

Hevea brasiliensis, a member of the Euphorbiaceae family, is the major commercial source of natural rubber (NR). NR is a latex polymer with high elasticity, flexibility, and resilience that has played a critical role in the world economy since 1876.Here, we report the draft genome sequence of H. brasiliensis. The assembly spans ~1.1 Gb of the estimated 2.15 Gb haploid genome. Overall, ~78% of the genome was identified as repetitive DNA. Gene prediction shows 68,955 gene models, of which 12.7% are unique to Hevea. Most of the key genes associated with rubber biosynthesis, rubberwood formation, disease resistance, and allergenicity have been identified.The knowledge gained from this genome sequence will aid in the future development of high-yielding clones to keep up with the ever increasing need for natural rubber.