Genome structure and evolutionary history of frankincense producing Boswellia sacra

Authors

Abdul Latif Khan, University of Houston
Ahmed Al-Harrasi, University of Nizwa, OmanFollow
Jin-Peng Wang, North China University of Science and Technology
Sajjad Asaf, University of Nizwa, Oman
Jean-Jack Riethoven, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Tariq Shehzad, University of Georgia
Chia-Sin Liew, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Xiao-Ming Song, North China University of Science and Technology
Daniel P. Schachtman, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Chao Liu, North China University of Science and Technology
Ji-Gao Yu, North China University of Science and Technology
Zhi-Kang Zhang, North China University of Science and Technology
Fan-Bo Meng, North China University of Science and Technology
Jia-Qing Yuan, North China University of Science and Technology
Chen-Dan Wei, North China University of Science and Technology
He Guo, North China University of Science and Technology
Xuewen Wang, University of Georgia
Ahmed Al-Rawahi, University of Nizwa, Oman
In-Jung Lee, Kyungpook National University
Jeffrey L. Bennetzen, University of Georgia
Xi-Yin Wang, North China University of Science and Technology,Follow

Date of this Version

2022

Document Type

Article

Citation

Khan et al., iScience 25, 104574

https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.isci.2022.104574

Comments

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license

Abstract

Boswellia sacra Flueck (family Burseraceae) tree is wounded to produce frankincense. We report its de novo assembled genome (667.8 Mb) comprising 18,564 high-confidence protein-encoding genes. Comparing conserved single-copy genes across eudicots suggest >97% gene space assembly of B. sacra genome. Evolutionary history shows B. sacra gene-duplications derived from recent paralogous events and retained from ancient hexaploidy shared with other eudicots. The genome indicated a major expansion of Gypsy retroelements in last 2 million years. The B. sacra genetic diversity showed four clades intermixed with a primary genotype—dominating most resin-productive trees. Further, the stemtranscriptome revealed that wounding concurrently activates phytohormones signaling, cell wall fortification, and resin terpenoid biosynthesis pathways leading to the synthesis of boswellic acid—a key chemotaxonomic marker of Boswellia. The sequence datasets reported here will serve as a foundation to investigate the genetic determinants of frankincense and other resin-producing species in Burseraceae.