The Litsea genome and the evolution of the laurel family
The laurel family within the Magnoliids has attracted attentions owing to its scents, variable inflorescences, and controversial phylogenetic position. Here, we present a chromosomelevel assembly of the Litsea cubeba genome, together with low-coverage genomic and transcriptomic data for many other Lauraceae. Phylogenomic analyses show phylogenetic discordance at the position of Magnoliids, suggesting incomplete lineage sorting during the divergence of monocots, eudicots, and Magnoliids. An ancient whole-genome duplication (WGD) event occurred just before the divergence of Laurales and Magnoliales; subsequently, independent WGDs occurred almost simultaneously in the three Lauralean lineages. The phylogenetic relationships within Lauraceae correspond to the divergence of inflorescences, as evidenced by the phylogeny of FUWA, a conserved gene involved in determining panicle architecture in Lauraceae. Monoterpene synthases responsible for production of specific volatile compounds in Lauraceae are functionally verified. Our work sheds light on the evolution of the Lauraceae, the genetic basis for floral evolution and specific scents. ; The Fundamental Research Funds of Chinese Academy of Forestry, China; the Science and Technology Major Program on Agricultural New Variety Breeding of Zhejiang, China; the Ten Thousand People Plan of Science and Technology Innovation Leading Talent of Zhejiang, China; the National Key R&D Program of China; the Special Research Fund of Ghent University; the National Key Research and Development Program of China; the Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration for Orchid Conservation and Utilization Construction Funds and the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program. ; http://www.nature.com/ncomms ; am2021 ; Biochemistry ; Genetics ; Microbiology and Plant Pathology