De Novo Sequencing of the Physalis alkekengi Genome

The genome sequence of many species within the Solanaceae remain unknown. However, this family contains many economically important plants, amongst which is the the recently published Solanum Lycopersicum and Solanum pennellii which we have recently sequenced. A greater understanding of the phylogenetic diversity within this family can be obtained by whole genome sequencing of additional species contained in this family.

The Physalis genus, which forms a distinctive group within the Solanaceae family contains many cultivated and ornamental species. We are in the process of de-novo sequencing the ornamental species, Physalis alkekengi. We would like to present our draft genome sequence of this species, the only member of the Physalis genus native to the Eurasia continent. Transcriptome and genome comparison between this species and a selection of different species within the Solanaceae will be shown.