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Genomics

Genome Sequence of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Unveiled

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Researchers at the University of Georgia have successfully mapped the genome of the hemlock woolly adelgid, a devastating insect pest that has been decimating Eastern hemlock trees across North America. The assembly, comprising 10 chromosomal pseudomolecules and 132 unplaced scaffolds, covers a total length of 216.56 Mb and is remarkably contiguous, with an N50 of 20.54 Mb. The assembly recovered 97.7% of benchmarked universal single-copy Hemiptera orthologs (BUSCO) with an overall completion score of 98.6%. The research has significant implications for the conservation and management of Eastern hemlock trees.

Key Takeaways:

  • The genome of the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) has been successfully assembled, covering a total length of 216.56 Mb.
  • The assembly is highly contiguous, with an N50 of 20.54 Mb and its longest scaffold 37.41 Mb in length.
  • The assembly recovered 97.7% of benchmarked universal single-copy Hemiptera orthologs (BUSCO) with an overall completion score of 98.6%.
  • The genome is composed of eight autosomes and two sex (X) chromosomes.
  • Annotation of the assembly identified 11,800 coding genes, 1,930 noncoding genes, and 20,403 mRNA transcripts.
  • The mitogenome is presented in a single, annotated, circular contig 25,980 bases in length.
  • Financial supporters for the research include Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Northern Research Station, National Science Foundation, Genome Canada, Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, Utah State University, Wellcome Trust, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, UK Medical Research Council, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, and the European Union.
  • The research has significant implications for the conservation and management of Eastern hemlock trees.

Statistics:

  • 216.56 Mb: total length of the genome assembly
  • 20.54 Mb: N50 of the genome assembly
  • 37.41 Mb: length of the longest scaffold in the genome assembly
  • 97.7%: percentage of benchmarked universal single-copy Hemiptera orthologs (BUSCO) recovered in the assembly
  • 98.6%: overall completion score of the assembly
  • 11,800: number of coding genes identified in the assembly
  • 1,930: number of noncoding genes identified in the assembly
  • 20,403: number of mRNA transcripts identified in the assembly
  • 25,980: length of the mitogenome in bases

Sources:

  • The Genome Sequence of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand 1924. Genome Biology and Evolution, 2025;17(10).
  • Oxford Univ Press, Great Clarendon St, Oxford OX2 6DP, England. (Oxford University Press - www.oup.com/; Genome Biology and Evolution - gbe.oxfordjournals.org)
  • University of Georgia, Dept. of Entomology, Dustin T. Dial, Dustin.Dial@uga.edu, Athens, GA 30602, United States.

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