Chromosome Level Genome Assembly of Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.): A Raw Material for Ornamental Plant and Industrial Lutein Production
Published:28 Apr.2023 Source:Horticultural Plant Journal
Marigold (Tagetes erecta) belongs to the genus of Tagetes in the family of Asteraceae, which is native to Mexico and is cultivated in the North and South of China. It is one of the most commonly used plants in flower bed settings. At the same time, marigold flowers are rich in lutein, which is also the main raw material for lutein production, widely used in pharmaceuticals, food pigments, and feed additives.
Recently, the Horticultural Plant Journal published a research paper online by team members such as Xin Haibo, a professor level senior engineer at the Beijing Academy of Landscape and Greening Sciences, and Zhang Zhao from China Agricultural University. This study aims to assemble a high-quality marigold genome and assist in elucidating the molecular basis for lutein synthesis.
This study completed the high-quality genome of marigold and analyzed key candidate genes for lutein metabolism, providing important reference for improving the quality of marigold.