Genome architecture of the heavy metal tolerant and accumulator Hirschfeldia incana: Insights from genome sequencing, assembly, and comparative analysis

Hirschfeldia incana L., a member of the Brassicaceae family commonly found in Mediterranean regions, is known for its capacity to withstand and accumulate heavy metals, particularly lead (Pb) both in soil environments and hydroponic systems. This plant has been used as a model to study plant responses to heavy metals. Nonetheless, the molecular mechanisms underlying its tolerance and heavy metal accumulation are not fully understood, partly because of the limited knowledge about its genome. In this study, the genome of H. incana was sequenced, assembled, characterized, and annotated. Approximately 8.6 Gpb of data were generated using Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT), resulting in a genome assembly of 390 Mb, comprising 5196 contigs with an N50 exceeding 131 kb. The genome had a BUSCO score of 97.2 %, with 38,454 genes and a repetition content of 38.25 %. Subsequently, the assembled genome was annotated using several databases including GO, InterPro, MetaCyc, PANTHER, Pfam, Reactome, SUPERFAMILY, and KEGG. This annotation yielded 22,661 GO terms and 143 KEGG maps. A comparative genomic analysis between H. incana and six Brassicaceae species (five hyperaccumulators of heavy metals and one non-hyperaccumulator) was also conducted. This analysis revealed that H. incana shares a substantial proportion of orthologous genes (89.7 % of orthogroups) with six Brassicaceae species. The generated phylogenetic tree suggests that H. incana is closely related to B. juncea, B. napus, and B. oleracea, indicating a common ancestry and potentially shared genetic factors contributing to hyperaccumulation in these species. Moreover, the copy number of twenty-nine genes involved in heavy metal tolerance and accumulation mechanisms in H. incana and six brassicaceae were assayed. This analysis revealed that H. incana and other hyperaccumulator species possess a higher copy number of genes related to heavy metal tolerance than the sensitive plant A. thaliana. Notably, the variation in gene copy numbers highlights their potential role in the adaptation of H. incana to heavy metal stress. This study provides a comprehensive genomic framework that enhance our understanding of H. incana adaptation to heavy metal stress, and offers valuable data for further genomic investigations of the molecular mechanisms of heavy metal tolerance and accumulation in plants.