High-Quality Genome Assembly and Genome-Wide Association Study of Male Sterility Provide Resources for Flax Improvement

Flax is an economic crop with a long history. It grown worldwide and mainly used for edible oil, industry, textiles. Here, we reported high-quality genome assembly “Neiya No. 9”, popular variety widely in China. Combining PacBio reads, Hi-C sequencing, genetic map previously, of 473.55 Mb was constructed, which covers ~94.7% the flax genome. These sequences were anchored onto 15 chromosomes. The N50 lengths contig scaffold 0.91 31.72 Mb, respectively. A total 32,786 protein-coding genes annotated, 95.9% complete BUSCOs found. Through morphological cytological observation, male sterility considered dominant nuclear sterility. GWAS analysis, gene LUSG00017705 (cysteine synthase gene) found to be closest most significant SNP, expression level this significantly lower sterile plants than fertile plants. Among SNPs identified only two located coding region, these caused changes protein encoded by LUSG00017565 protease gene). speculated that may related flax. This first time molecular mechanism has been reported. revealed, provided solid foundation breeding.