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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Sustainable Perennial Crops Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #427332
Research Project: Genotypic Characterization of Genetic Resources for Cacao, Coffee, and Other Tropical Perennial Crops Economically Important to the United States

Location: Sustainable Perennial Crops Laboratory

Title: First genome and transcription factor profile for Asimina triloba, a native North American fruit tree

Author
item Yulfo-Soto, Gabdiel
item TOTH, HANNAH - The Ohio State University
item LEUNG, JASON - Columbia University - New York
item Meinhardt, Lyndel
item DAVIES, MATTHEW - Falkland Island Department Of Agriculture
item JACOBS, JONATHAN - The Ohio State University
item Cohen, Stephen

Submitted to: The Plant Genome
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/7/2025
Publication Date: 3/4/2026
Citation: Yulfo-Soto, G.E., Toth, H., Leung, J., Meinhardt, L.W., Davies, M.G., Jacobs, J.M., Cohen, S.P. 2026. First genome and transcription factor profile for Asimina triloba, a native North American fruit tree. The Plant Genome. 19:e70181.

Interpretive Summary: Pawpaw is a North American fruiting tree that is culturally and economically important. Despite the cultivation of dozens of pawpaw varieties that grow widely in the northeast United States and Canada, there are no publicly available resources that detail the genome (DNA sequences), slowing the ability to develop new varieties. We used advanced DNA sequencing techniques to assemble the first pawpaw genome. We used computational tools to identify genes that are involved in valuable agronomic traits such as environmental response, flower development and fruiting. This research contributes to the modernization of pawpaw breeding, enabling targeted efforts to develop new varieties, thus bringing pawpaw closer to its market potential. This information will be used by plant breeders and researchers to develop new and improved pawpaw varieties that will be used by consumers.

Technical Abstract: Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is the only fruit-producing native, temperate North American tree closely related to tropical soursops. Pawpaws are extensively cultivated and grown regionally in the northeast United States and Canada, but to date there are few genomic resources and no publicly available genome assembly. Here, we present the first high-quality genome assembly and annotation of pawpaw (cultivar ‘Mango’), derived from high fidelity third-generation sequencing. The assembly consisted of 68 contigs, spanning 851.7 Mbp with 37% GC, 97.7% (embryophyta) and 94.4% (eudicot) BUSCO completeness and scaffold N50 28.6 Mbp. We profiled agronomically-important transcription factors from the WRKY and NAC families, important to environmental/immune response and regulation of fruit traits, respectively. This resource brings opportunities for more genetic and breeding studies for this culturally and economically important fruiting tree, expanding the potential commercial value.