A chromosome-level haplotype-resolved genome assembly of oriental tobacco budworm (Helicoverpa assulta)

Abstract

Oriental tobacco budworm (Helicoverpa assulta) and cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) are two closely related species within the genus Helicoverpa. They have similar appearances and consistent damage patterns, often leading to confusion. However, the cotton bollworm is a typical polyphagous insect, while the oriental tobacco budworm belongs to the oligophagous insects. In this study, we used Nanopore, PacBio, and Illumina platforms to sequence the genome of H. assulta and used Hifiasm to create a haplotype-resolved draft genome. The Hi-C technique helped anchor 33 primary contigs to 32 chromosomes, including two sex chromosomes, Z and W. The final primary haploid genome assembly was approximately 415.19 Mb in length. BUSCO analysis revealed a high degree of completeness, with 99.0% gene coverage in this genome assembly. The repeat sequences constituted 38.39% of the genome assembly, and we annotated 17093 protein-coding genes. The high-quality genome assembly of the oriental tobacco budworm serves as a valuable genetic resource that enhances our comprehension of how they select hosts in a complex odour environment. It will also aid in developing an effective control policy.