Genome survey sequencing for the characterization of genetic background of Dracaena cambodiana and its defense response during dragon’s blood formation

Abstract

Dragon’s blood collected from the genus Dracaena is used as a renowned traditional medicine in various cultures worldwide. However, the genetics of the genus Dracaena and the formation mechanism of dragon’s blood remain poorly understood. Here, we generate the first draft genome reference assembly of an elite Chinese Dracaena species, Dracaena cambodiana, from next-generation sequencing data with 89.46× coverage. The reads were assembled into 2,640,704 contigs with an N50 length of 1.87 kb, and a 1.05 Gb assembly was finally assembled with 2,379,659 scaffolds. Furthermore, 97.75% of the 267,243 simple sequence repeats identified from these scaffolds were mononucleotide, dinucleotide, and trinucleotide repeats. Among all 53,700 predicted genes, 158 genes involved in cell wall and plant hormone synthesis and reactive oxygen species scavenging showed altered regulation during the formation of dragon’s blood. This study provides a genomic characterization of D. cambodiana and improves understanding of the molecular mechanism of dragon’s blood formation. This report represents the first genome-wide characterization of a Dracaena species in the Asparagaceae.

Recent Advances in Synthesis, Bioactivity, and Pharmacokinetics of Pterostilbene, an Important Analog of Resveratrol

“…Pterostilbene is the main and important component of Dragon's blood. Dragon's blood has been used as a renowned traditional medicine in various cultures around the world [3]. This plant has a long and extensive history of folk medicine in the treatment of injury, promotion of wound healing, and the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, which will possibly lead to its clinical breakthrough and clinical application fields and therapeutic features in various fields.…”

“…Extract from the genus Dracaena (Dragon's blood) is a renowned traditional medicine in various cultures around the world [3]. Dragon's blood extract has traditionally been used as a wound healing and antineoplastic agent because of its antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities [4][5][6].…”

What We Know and What We Do Not Know about Dragon Trees?

“…in stem of D. cambodiana [103], and Colletotrichum gloeosporioide in the leaves of D. cochinchinensis [104]. The resin can also be induced chemically [105]. Dragon's blood does not appear directly after the wound, the process of its formation takes time [106].…”

Genome survey sequencing ofAtractylodes lanceaand identification of its SSR markers

“…The SSR types of A. lancea were abundant and with high frequencies of mononucleotide, dinucleotide, and trinucleotide repeats. This is similar to plants such as Dioscorea zingiberensis [ 31 ], Rosa roxburghii [ 32 ], Dracaena cambodiana [ 33 ], and Apocynum venetum [ 34 ], but not consistent with the majority of plants where dinucleotide and trinucleotide repeats are the main types of SSR [ 35–37 ]. Among the dinucleotide repeat motifs, the GA/TC and AG/CT repeats were the two most abundant types, which accounted for 31.17 and 26.15%, respectively, followed by CA/TG (11.75%).…”