Chinese scholars publish the Lotus Genome Database

, Feb. 18 (Xinhua Xiong Wei) Recently, Wuhan Institute of Garden Science and
Wuhan Botanical Garden jointly developed a lotus genome database to decipher the genetic code of lotus. Recently, the database was published in internationally renowned academic journals, for national lotus researchers to share free of charge.
, aquatic plant lotus is one of the earliest flowering plants on earth. The study found that as early as about 140 million years ago, when ferns and dinosaurs dominated the earth, lotus distribution existed in many waters of the northern hemisphere.
Wuhan Institute of Garden Science has a long tradition and history of lotus research, currently collecting and cultivating more than 300 lotus varieties in China, since 2018 has also introduced the cultivation of American lotus, Australian lotus, as well as India, Thailand, Vietnam and other countries lotus varieties.
Botanical Garden in Wuhan, China, has led the country in the scientific research of lotus plants, and in 2013 completed the genome sequencing and analysis of ancient lotus in China, and mapped the genome framework.
December 2019, a database of lotus genomes created by scholars from both organizations was launched. In September 2020, the database obtained the copyright of computer software granted by the State Copyright Office. In January 2021, the database was published online in Scientific Data, an internationally renowned academic journal.
Li Will of Wuhan Botanical Garden and Dr. Yang Xingyu of Wuhan Institute of Garden Science are the first authors of the thesis. Currently, genomic-related data from research samples has been uploaded to the NCBI data platform, which is available for global academic use.
Yang Xingyu said the database will help to study the genetics of lotus populations and molecular breeding, as well as a comprehensive understanding of the genetic variation characteristics of the whole genome of lotus. Through the data to trace the history of lotus cultivation and domestication, in order to cultivate high-yielding, high-quality new varieties, while improving the level and speed of breeding technology. In this sense, the database is a "golden key" to crack the genetic code of lotus molecules.