%0 Journal Article %A Hiroaki Sakai %A Naito Ken %A Eri Ogiso-Tanaka %A Yu Takahashi %A Kohtaro Iseki %A Chiaki Muto %A Kazuhito Satou %A Kuniko Teruya %A Akino Shiroma %A Makiko Shimoji %A Takashi Hirano %A Takeshi Itoh %A Akito Kaga %A Norihiko Tomooka %T The power of single molecule real-time sequencing technology in the de novo assembly of a eukaryotic genome %D 2015 %R 10.1101/021634 %J bioRxiv %P 021634 %X Second-generation sequencers (SGS) have been game-changing, achieving cost-effective whole genome sequencing in many non-model organisms. However, a large portion of the genomes still remains unassembled. We reconstructed azuki bean (Vigna angularis) genome using single molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing technology and achieved the best contiguity and coverage among currently assembled legume crops. The SMRT-based assembly produced 100 times longer contigs with 100 times smaller amount of gaps compared to the SGS-based assemblies. A detailed comparison between the assemblies revealed that the SMRT-based assembly enabled a more comprehensive gene annotation than the SGS-based assemblies where thousands of genes were missing or fragmented. A chromosome-scale assembly was generated based on the high-density genetic map, covering 86% of the azuki bean genome. We demonstrated that SMRT technology, though still needed to be assisted by SGS data, can achieve a near-complete assembly of a eukaryotic genome. %U https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2015/06/29/021634.full.pdf